It is not only about test scores anymore. Fayette County public schools are always at or near the top of the list when it comes to test scores. Yet a recently released accounting of student growth percentiles (SGP) statewide tells a somewhat different story. While still near the top of more than 180 school districts in some growth categories, Fayette in other areas falls far short.
As a district, Fayette’s SGP scores in 2013 compared to other districts were:
Comparing CRCT in all grades 4-8:
Reading – 60 percent (near the top of all districts).
English/Language arts – 56 percent (near the top).
Math – 58 percent (near the top).
Science – 53 percent (near bottom of the top third).
Social Studies – 49 percent (mid-way).
End of Course Tests all grades 8-12:
American Literature/Composition – 44 percent (high was Decatur at 54 percent).
Math I – 66 percent (high was Clinch County at 88 percent; Fayette number 12 overall).
Math II – 60 percent (high was Buford City at 82 percent; Fayette toward bottom of the top 25 districts).
Biology – 48 percent (Fayette near bottom of top half of all districts; Liberty County was 78 percent).
U.S. History – 52 percent (near bottom of the top one-third; Screven was 89 percent).
Economics – 74 percent (Fayette scored in the top 15 districts).
Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs) describe the amount of growth a student has demonstrated, relative to other academically-similar students across Georgia with the same achievement history, according to the Ga. Dept. of Education (DOE). The SGP data recently released compares student growth over a three-year period, said DOE spokesman Matt Cardoza.
Growth percentiles range from 1 to 99, with lower percentiles indicating lower academic growth and higher percentiles indicating higher academic growth. With SGPs, all students – regardless of their achievement level – have the opportunity to demonstrate all levels of growth, DOE said.
By way of example, Cardoza said a score of 60 means the student did better than 59 percent of Georgia students while the remaining 40 percent “grew better.”
Cardoza said “low growth” falls into the 1-34 range, “typical growth” in the 35-65 range and “high growth” in the 66-99 range.
DOE did not have overall scores by district and school, but only by specific content (test) areas such as biology or math across a grade level, at a school level or at the district level. Asked why overall scores by district and by school were not available, Cardoza said the scoring by content areas is done “for information purposes and not for ranking purposes. It’s a diagnostic tool.”
There are more than 180 school districts in Georgia. While most are school systems, some are individual charter schools, such as the Coweta Charter Academy in Senoia that ranks number 1 in the state in Reading.
The SGP data for Georgia’s school districts can be accessed at www.gastudentgrowth.gadoe.org and provides school and district-level results. Use the drop-down menus at the top to select the data you want to view. You can hover over a bubble to view additional information. You can then click on a bubble to drill down and view more detailed data. The hyperlinks at the top will allow you to go back to previous views.
The addition of student growth data to existing student achievement data paints a more complete picture of the achievement and progress being made by Georgia’s students, according to DOE
SGPs are one of multiple measures used to provide an indication of teacher and leader effectiveness in the Teacher and Leader Keys Effectiveness Systems (TKES and LKES).
SGPs also contribute to school and district accountability. SGPs are used as a measure of student progress in the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). SGPs are combined with other measures to provide an overall indication of school and district effectiveness, DOE said.
Future articles on the SGP will address Fayette’s growth scores by content area in individual elementary, middle and high schools.
