Results recently released from the 2008 Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) show that Fulton County 11th graders continue to score above their state and metro Atlanta peers.

Fulton showed a 5 percent increase of students passing all four areas of the spring test – English/language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.

In addition, Fulton students showed high scores in the first administration of the exam’s new English/language arts and science tests. This school year, the two subtests were fully aligned to the state’s new Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) curriculum. The exams contain more rigorous and challenging material and are designed to test higher order thinking skills. Fulton students outscored the state average in both curriculum areas.

Scoring for GPS-Aligned Tests in English/Language Arts and Science

The newly-aligned GHSGT curriculum areas are scored similarly to the GHSGT’s writing exam, which now sets 200 as a minimum passing score. These new exams are scored at four levels:

Below Proficiency (Below 200)

Basic Proficiency (200-234)

Advanced Proficiency (235-274)

Honors (Above 275)

In the English/language arts subject area, Fulton County’s average was 243, eight points higher than the state average. Fulton students also showed a 92 percent passing rate in the English/language arts subject area, and in science, the Fulton County average was 240, with 88 percent of students passing the exam. Students also exceeded the state average in science by five points.

Seven schools reported 50 percent or more of students scoring within the Advanced Proficiency level in English/language arts – Alpharetta, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Milton, Northview, Riverwood and Roswell high schools. Three reported 50 percent or more scoring within Advanced Proficiency in science – Alpharetta, Northview and Roswell high schools.

Mathematics and Social Studies

For the 2008 tests, mathematics still followed the former Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) standards and the social studies content area was dually aligned to GPS and QCC. Both areas were scored within 400-600, with 500 as a passing score. The tests will be fully aligned with the GPS curriculum beginning in 2010 for social studies and 2011 for mathematics.

In mathematics, 93 percent of students obtained passing scores and the system score of 540 was six points higher than the state average. Fulton students also performed well in social studies with 90 percent of students passing and a system average of 527, six points higher than the state average.

About The Test

As part of the statewide testing program, 11th grade students are administered the GHSGT each spring. They are tested in four subject areas – English/language arts, mathematics, social studies and science – and each section must be passed to earn a Georgia high school diploma. Students have four opportunities to pass each section of the GHSGT before graduation.

The writing section of the test was given in the fall, with 94 percent of Fulton 11th graders reporting a passing score of 200 or better, compared to 89 percent statewide.

Scores for each school are attached.