November 4, 2024

Greensboro, Ga. – The Greene County School System is proud to announce a marked improvement in student performance on the Georgia Milestones Assessments for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Georgia Milestones Assessment, which is administered in grades 3-12, is just one measure of many that the Greene County School System uses to measure academic progress. This year, the results showed increased proficiency and a considerable reduction in beginning-level learners on 13 out of 19 Georgia Milestones assessments. 

"These gains reflect the hard work of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the district's focus on creating learning environments that foster academic achievement," said Crystal Parten, Director of Teaching and Learning. "The highlights from the Georgia Milestones Assessment outcomes this year are growth and achievement in grade levels and content areas at each school, significant improvements in Algebra and English-Language Arts, and meeting or outpacing the average proficient and distinguished percentages of similar rural Title 1 districts across Georgia.”

One of the most notable accomplishments is evident in the Greene County High School Algebra results, where the number of beginning-level learners decreased by 37%. At the same time, proficiency jumped 11 percentage points, marking a statistically significant increase for adolescent learners. Not only was this increase seen in grade-level data, but the cohort data also showed a 12% increase in proficient and distinguished Algebra scores from 8th to 9th grade, underscoring the effectiveness of the strategies used to target Algebra last year. In Biology, cohort data (8th grade science to high school Biology) saw an impressive 28% increase in proficiency levels, reflecting the intentional and effective instructional practices in high school science. 

At Anita White Carson Middle School, 7th grade Language Arts saw a 14% increase in students scoring at proficient and distinguished levels. Eighth grade also posted strong results, particularly in English-Language Arts, where students who looped with their teacher achieved a 63% reading proficiency rate, representing an 11% increase for the grade and a 15% rise for the cohort from 7th to 8th grade. These results highlight the success of the district’s new ELA curriculum and professional development around adolescent literacy. Math results for 8th grade showed a 24% decrease in beginning-level scores, while Georgia Studies recorded its best outcome in years, with a 15% reduction in students scoring at the beginning level.

Among elementary students, Greene County’s 4th grade showed remarkable success after looping with their teachers, achieving 75% proficiency in math, 63% reading on grade level, and a 27% reduction in beginning-level learners. In 5th grade reading, cohort data demonstrated a substantial 25% increase in students reading on grade level, with proficiency rising from 36% in 4th grade to 62% in 5th grade, highlighting the positive impact of the district’s elementary literacy initiatives.

"We are proud of the progress Greene County students have made and look forward to building on this momentum in the coming years," said Superintendent Dr. Chris Houston. "Our district will continue implementing innovative strategies, high-quality curricula, targeted professional development, and personalized learning to support each student’s educational journey.”