CRCT scores follow state trends
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Local students' scores on the 2008 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) are comparable with statewide results in most areas of study for most grades, according to information recently released by the Georgia Department of Education. The three grades in which students must pass the CRCT in order to be promoted to the next grade level are third, fifth and eighth grades.

Third grade students at Jenkins County Elementary School (JCES) beat the state CRCT standards in the area of math with 75.4 percent of the students meeting/exceeding the standards. The statewide percentage was 70.9. The students' scores in other areas of study were in line with statewide scores.

Fifth grade students at JCES excelled in the area of math with 94.5 percent meeting/exceeding CRCT standards. Statewide, only 71.6 percent of the state's fifth graders met/exceeded the standards. Students' scores in science, 57.8 percent meeting/ exceeding standards, fell below the state percentage of 71.3. Other areas of study were in line with statewide scores.

Other subject areas where JCES students beat the state percentages were second grade reading, third grade math, and 4th grade reading, math and social studies.

Eighth graders at Jenkins County Middle School (JCMS) did not do as well. Students scored below state percentages in math, social studies and science, but within statewide range in the area of reading.

The percentages of local eighth graders meeting/exceeding CRCT standards were 90.1 percent in reading; 53.2 percent in math; 39.6 percent in social studies and 40.5 percent in science. This compares to statewide percentages of 90.6 percent in reading; 62.1 percent in math; 59.7 percent in social studies and 58.9 percent in science.

Nicole Moulton, JCMS principal, noted that the school is taking steps aimed at improving students' scores, especially in the area of social studies. Some of the planned activities include providing students with social studies workbooks; providing additional support to students with special needs such as the graduation coach, more frequent progress monitoring and additional assessments; inclusion of social studies in the School Improvement Plan; development of units, projects and curriculum maps based on the Georgia Performance Standards frameworks and continuing to work with the CSRA RESA staff during weekly professional learning days regarding specific learning needs.

"We also plan to frequently evaluate our progress throughout the year," said Moulton.