The City Schools of Decatur outstripped the state averages on the Georgia Milestones test released today in grades 3, 5 and 8.
The scores on the standardized state exams break down results into four basic learning levels. The lowest is beginning learners, who don’t demonstrate proficiency at grade level and require substantial academic support to be ready for the next grade level. Developing learners demonstrate partial proficiency but still need additional academic support. Proficient learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary, and distinguished learners demonstrate advanced proficiency.
In third grade, 65.4 percent of Decatur students demonstrated proficiency or better in language arts, and 73.3 percent did so in math.
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In fifth grade, 68.7 percent achieved proficient or distinguished in language arts, while 66 percent scored at those upper ranges in math.
At eighth grade, 70.6 percent scored proficient or better in language, arts, while 61.5 percent did so in math. When the 52 Renfroe Middle School eighth graders talented enough to take high school math are counted, the proficiency or higher rate climbs to 67.1.
Despite being among the state's highest performers, Decatur saw significant drops in language art scores in fifth and eighth grade. Last year, 78. 2 percent of eighth graders and 77.5 percent of fifth graders scored proficient or advanced on the language arts Milestones tests. Eighth grade language arts scores fell 7.6 percentage points, while fifth grade scores dropped 8.8 points. On a happier note, the third-grade language arts performance rose 2.1 percentage points, while math climbed 5.7 points.
You can check out critical information about your child's school such as graduation rates and teacher experience in the Ultimate Atlanta School Guide.
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