GCPS Students Surpass State on CRCT

Students in Gwinnett County Public Schools scored above the state averages in all content areas and grade levels on the 2010-11 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, according to results announced Wednesday (June 22) by the school system. Gwinnett students performing at Level 3 – the highest level – also exceeded state standards.

The state-mandated CRCTs were administered to students in grades 3-8 in April. The tests measure what students in these grades should know and be able to do at their grade levels in reading, English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies based on Georgia’s Performance Standards. Results for individual schools have not yet been released.

A student’s performance falls into one of three performance levels:

Level 1 – Does not meet the standard

Level 2 – Meets the standard

Level 3 – Exceeds the standard

“These CRCT results affirm our focus on improving achievement for all students through high expectations, increased rigor, and student engagement in learning activities,” said Dale Robbins, GCPS associate superintendent for Teaching and Learning Support, in the announcement. “We work very hard to encourage students to higher and higher levels of achievement. Our goal is not for students to simply ‘pass;’ our goal is for them to exceed the standards set by the state.”

“Double-digit increases in the ‘exceeds’ category were achieved infourth grade reading (+10), fifth grade reading (+12) and seventh grade social studies (+13). We will continue to challenge students to achieve at their greatest potential by incorporating strategies such as problem solving, decision making and collaboration.”

Here are highlights of the test results for GCPS elementary students:

• Gwinnett third graders improved the percentage passing in nearly every area tested and increased the percentage of students scoring in the “exceeds” category in every area. 94 percent met or exceeded the standard for their grade level in reading, 94 percent in English/language arts, 86 percent in mathematics, 86 percent in science and 88 percent in social studies.
• Fourth graders also improved over the previous year’s class in nearly every area with 93 percent meeting or exceeding the standard in reading, 94 percent in English/language arts, 91 percent in mathematics, 90 percent in science, and 91 percent in social studies.
• Of last year’s fifth grade test-takers, 94 percent met or surpassed the standard in reading, 96 percent in English/language arts, 94 percent in mathematics, 86 percent in science, and 82 percent in social studies.
• At least 41 percent of Gwinnett students at each grade level who took the tests exceeded the state standard in reading.
• At the elementary level, Gwinnett students raised the percentage achieving in the “exceeds” performance level on 14 subtests.
• In fourth grade science, 57 percent of students exceeded the state standard.

Gwinnett middle school student CRCT highlights:

• 96 percent of sixth grade students met or exceeded the state standard for reading, and 94 percent met or exceeded the standard in English/language arts. In mathematics 85 percent met or exceeded the standard, while that figure was 82 percent in science. In social studies, 84 percent met or exceeded the state standard.
• About 96 percent of Gwinnett seventh graders met or exceeded the state standard in reading, 97 percent in English/language arts, 95 percent in mathematics, 93 in science, and 89 percent in social studies.
• In the eighth grade, 97 percent of students met or exceeded the standard for their grade level in reading, 96 percent in English/language arts, 85 percent in mathematics, 79 percent in science, and 81 percent in social studies.
• At least 36 percent of Gwinnett middle school test-takers at each grade level exceeded the state standard in reading.
• At the middle school level, Gwinnett students raised the percentage achieving in the “exceeds” performance level on 13 subtests. About 66 percent of seventh graders surpassed state standards in social studies and 59 percent in science.