Fayette Leads State in High School Graduation Test Pass Rates

More good news has just been released about the pass rate results of Fayette’s Spring 2011 Georgia High School Graduation Test.

In a report showing pass rate percentages for all of the state’s 11th grade first-time test takers released today by the Georgia Department of Education, Fayette is top in the state, compared to the number of students tested, coming in at number one in Math, Science, and English/Language Arts, and second in Social Studies. Systems that finished ahead of Fayette in Math, Science and English/Language Arts are smaller, with six to 400 students tested compared to over 1,600 in Fayette.

Fayette’s pass rate percentages are 98, Science; 97, English/Language Arts; 95, Math; and 90, Social Studies.

Fayette stands alone as first in the state in Science and Math; the county is tied with Forsyth for first in English/Language Arts. The school system is tied for second in Social Studies with Columbia County.

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Gains in Pass Rates for 2011 GHSGT

Fayette County Public School System’s scores on the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) remain strong in all subjects, even with the math section of the test aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for the first time.

The 2011 spring administration results for first time 11th grade test takers show the percentage of passing scores are up in English/Language Arts (97 percent passing) and Science (98 percent passing) by 1 and 2 percent, respectively, compared to last year. Social Studies remained the same (90 percent passing) while Math (95 percent passing) dropped 2 percent compared to the test give last year under Quality Core Curriculum (QCC).

State comparisons show that Fayette has higher pass rates across the board: 6 percent higher in English/Language Arts, 11 percent higher in Math, 5 percent higher in Science and 10 percent higher in Social Studies.

Not only are Fayette’s scores up in English/Language Arts and Science, but also are the percentages of students scoring in the “advanced proficiency” and “honors” categories. In English/Language Arts, the percent scoring in “honors” increased 2 percent; those scoring in “advanced proficiency” in Science increased 6 percent.

Special Education and Hispanic students increased their passing score in English/Language Arts by 12 and 2 percent, respectively, compared to last year. Even with math being aligned for the first time to the GPS, both groups increased their pass rate. Special Education students had a 10 percent increase with Hispanic students increasing their rate by 3 percent.

Passing percentage increases were also seen in science for Hispanic students, up 10 percent, and Black students, up 6 percent.

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Fayette County Students Score Almost Perfect on Writing Test

Fayette’s high school students nearly posted a 100 percent pass rate on the fall 2010 Georgia High School Writing Test.

The pass rate for first-time 11th grade regular program students was 99 percent with only one percent not meeting standards. The pass rate is up two percent from last year with the percentage not meeting standards dropping two percent. The percent of students exceeding standards was 18 percent, the same as last year.

State-level comparisons show that 97 percent of Georgia’s first time 11th grade regular students passed the test, nine percent exceeded.

All of the county’s high schools raised their pass rates from 2009, earning 99 percent across the board with the exception of Whitewater High, which had a 100 percent pass rate. In comparison to 2009, Fayette County High’s pass rate increased two percent, McIntosh increased three percent, Sandy Creek increased three percent, Starr’s Mill increased one percent, and Whitewater increased three percent.

All schools posted double digits in the “exceeds” category ranging from 14 to 24 percent. Both McIntosh and Sandy Creek saw large jumps in this category with McIntosh up five percent and Sandy Creek up a whopping 17 percent from 2009.

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Fayette County SAT Performance in Top 25 Percent of State

2010 SAT scores of Georgia high schools released Monday by The College Board show that all five of Fayette County high schools finished in the top 25 percent.

Both McIntosh and Starr’s Mill finished in the top 5 percent with average scores of 1624 and 1617, respectively. Whitewater, with an average score of 1518, posted in the top 14 percent; Fayette County, with an average score of 1491, ranked in the top 16 percent; and Sandy Creek, with an average score of 1436, finished in the top 24 percent.

Out of the 438 high schools on the list, McIntosh had the 23rd highest average score followed by Starr’s Mill at 25; Whitewater, 60; Fayette County High, 69; and Sandy Creek, 104.

It is important to note that many of the schools on the list had under 100 students tested compared to Fayette with between 192 and 329 test takers at each school.

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Fayette County SAT Participation Increases, Scores Top State and Nation

With a gain in the number of students taking the test, Fayette County's 2010 high school graduates topped the average scores of both the state and nation on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), according to results released today by the College Board.

Fayette’s students posted an overall average score of 1547 – 94 points above that of the state and 38 points over the national average.

The breakdown of Fayette’s scores is as follows: 520 critical reading, 524 mathematics and 503 writing. Fayette outscored both the state and the nation in all test sections. The county’s score is 32 points above the state and 19 points above the nation in critical reading, 34 above the state and 8 above the nation in mathematics and 28 above the state and 11 above the nation in writing.

Nearly 3 percent more graduates took the test in 2010; participation totaled 1,358. The number of test takers has steadily declined since 2008. Participation went from 1,480 (the highest in the last five years) in 2007 to 1,394 in 2008; a 5.8 percent decrease. The decline continued in 2009 with 1,320 high school graduates tested, a 5.3 percent decrease.

Both McIntosh and Starr’s Mill High had the highest average scores in the county with 1624 and 1617, respectively. Fayette County High had the highest average score increase with 1491, a 39-point jump from 2009. Whitewater High also saw an increase with a score of 1518, up 17 points from 2009. Sandy Creek High posted an average score of 1436.

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Fayette is a Top Performer on ACT

Just released 2010 ACT test scores show that Fayette County’s high school seniors are among the most prepared for college-level coursework in the state and nation.

Among the school systems whose scores have been published (Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Marietta City), Fayette posted the highest composite score of 22.6, up from 22.5 last year. In comparison to state and national composite scores, state schools scored 20.7 and schools nationwide scored 21.0. That puts Fayette 1.9 points ahead of the state composite and 1.6 points ahead of the nation.

The ACT consists of curriculum-based tests of educational development in English, mathematics, reading and science designed to measure the skills needed for success in the first year of college coursework.

Most students in Fayette take the SAT, the other college entrance exam. The ACT is the primary college admissions test for schools in some other parts of the country.

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Fayette County CRCT Scores Among Top in Georgia

The 2010 CRCT results show Fayette County students are among the top statewide in subjects tested at all grade levels.

In comparison to the critical grade levels where students must pass reading in third grade and both reading and math in fifth and eighth grades to get promoted, only Forsyth County and a handful of smaller school systems posted higher scores in some subjects.

Overall, test scores remain high across all subjects and grade levels, soaring well above state averages. Students showed the greatest gains in math in grades 3, 5 and 8, posting 1.6, 1.9 and 6.3 points, respectively, above last year’s scores. Likewise, eighth graders also posted significant gains in both science and social studies with increased scores of 1.3 and 4.5 points, respectively.

The CRCT is a curriculum-based test given to students in grades 1-8 in the subjects of reading, English Language Arts and mathematics. In grades 3-8, science and social students are added.

It is projected that all schools will have all groups make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) this year with the exception of one sub-group at Sandy Creek High and one sub-group at Fayette County High. A small sub-group at Sandy Creek did not have enough students make the AYP cut score on the English Language Arts portion of the GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test); a small sub-group at Fayette County did not have enough students make the AYP cut score on the math portion of the GHSGT. Both schools are working with their groups during the next few weeks to help them prepare for a retest in July. The outcome of the retest could change both schools’ status to passing in these categories.

The Fayette County Public School System thanks its teachers and students for their hard work and will continue to address areas of improvement with additional strategies.

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Fayette County 5th Graders Beat Regional and State Percentages on Writing Assessment

The Spring 2010 Georgia Fifth Grade Writing Assessment results show that Fayette County students on average outperformed their counterparts across the state.

Fayette County scores breakdown as follows: 20 percent did not meet the standard, 70 percent met the standard and 10 percent exceeded the standard. A total of 1,569 students were tested.

Comparing the state’s results to Fayette’s, seven percent more students did not meet the standard, and four and three percent less students, respectively, met and exceeded the standard. Likewise at the regional level (includes Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties) six percent more students did not meet the standard, and two and four percent less students, respectively, met and exceeded the standard.

The Georgia Writing Assessment is administered to students in grades three, five, eight and 11. The assessments provide information to students about their writing performance and areas of strength and challenge.

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Fayette County Students Sees Gains on Eighth Grade Writing Assessment

Fayette County student scores on the 2010 Georgia Eighth Grade Writing Assessment show a four percent gain in the “meets standards” category and improved scores for both African American and Hispanic students.

A total of 1,632 regular program students took the test with 80 percent “meeting standards,” 16 percent “exceeding standards,” and four percent “not meeting standards.” Fayette’s scores remained above that of the state where 76 percent of Georgia’s eighth graders “met standards,” seven percent “exceeded standards,” and 17 percent “did not meet standards.”

Fayette’s African American and Hispanic students posted the greatest improvement from last year. African American students went from 16 percent “not meeting standards” to 10 percent, and increased from 76 to 83 percent in “meeting standards,” – a seven percent gain. Hispanic students dropped from eight to three percent in “not meeting standards,” and increased from 77 to 79 percent in “meeting standards” and from nine to 13 percent in “exceeding standards.” In comparison to Georgia’s scores, the students performed well above their peers with 29 percent of the state’s African American students and 25 percent of Hispanic students “not meeting standards,” 69 percent of African Americans and 72 percent of Hispanics “meeting standards,” and three percent of both African American and Hispanic students “exceeding standards.”

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Fayette County is a Top Performer on ACT

Just released 2009 ACT test scores show that Fayette County’s high school seniors are among the most prepared for college-level coursework in the state and nation.

Among the top performing school systems in Georgia, Fayette County posted the highest composite score, 22.5, compared to the number of students tested, 1,027. Only two school systems posted higher scores than Fayette County but with fewer students taking the test. Forsyth County posted 23.1 with 772 students tested and Heard County posted 23.2 with six students tested. Oconee County had the same score as Fayette but with only 190 students tested.

In comparison to state and national composite scores, state schools scored 20.1 and schools nationwide scored 21.1. That puts Fayette 1.9 points ahead of the state’s composite and 1.4 points ahead of the nation.

The number of Fayette County's seniors taking the test has increased to over 1,020 – up more than 80 percent since 2005. Compared to last year, the number of test takers jumped nearly 11 percent.

The ACT consists of curriculum-based tests of educational development in English, mathematics, reading and science designed to measure the skills needed for success in the first year of college coursework.

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Fayette County CRCT Scores Best in State

The 2009 CRCT results show Fayette County students leading the state in subjects tested at all grade levels.

In comparison to the critical grade levels where students must pass reading in third grade and both reading and math in fifth and eighth grades to get promoted, only a handful of smaller school systems posted higher scores in some subjects. These systems had fewer than 1,000 students taking the tests compared to Fayette’s more than 1,400-1,700 students, depending on the grade level.

The CRCT is a curriculum-based test given to students in grades 1-8 in the subjects of reading, English language arts and mathematics. In grades 3-8, science and social students are added. This year all of the CRCTs were aligned with Georgia’s new curriculum, resulting in more rigorous tests.

Overall, test scores remain high across all subjects and grade levels, soaring will above state averages. The largest gain in scores was seen in science in grades 3, 5 and 8 with increases between 4-6 percentage points.

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SCORE Comes to Fayette County

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce office in Fayetteville will be the home of a brand new SCORE chapter. SCORE is a 45 year old resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Its mostly retired counselors offer free small business counseling and low cost workshops to both startup and in-business clients.

Nationally, SCORE is an organization of almost 11,000 volunteers in 375 chapters in the U.S. serving over 500,000 clients yearly. The Atlanta Chapter is an organization of over 75 counselors located in 15 offices throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The new Fayette County chapter will operate from the Fayette Chamber office at 200 Courthouse Square in Fayetteville. The SCORE counselors will schedule appointments from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Fridays. To make an appointment for counseling or attend one of the chapter’s workshops, visit www.scoreatlanta.org and register. A counselor will call to set an appointment.

The opening of the SCORE chapter in collaboration with the Fayette Chamber and Fayette Encore graduates represents a golden opportunity for small businesses in the area to obtain professional guidance in the operation of their businesses.

The Chamber’s collaboration with SCORE provides another tool for Fayette County businesses to use to help them survive and thrive in the current economic climate. For more information on how the Chamber helps strengthen local businesses, contact their office at 770.461.9983 or visit online at www.FayetteChamber.org.

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Fayette County Students See Gains on Eighth Grade Writing Assessment

Fayette County scores on the 2009 Georgia Eighth Grade Writing Assessment show a one percent gain in the “exceed standards” category and improved scores across the board for Hispanic students.

A total of 1,614 regular program students took the test with 76 percent “meeting standards,” 18 percent “exceeding standards,” and six percent “not meeting standards.” Fayette’s scores remained above that of the state where 72 percent of the state’s eighth graders “met standards,” seven percent “exceeded standards,” and 21 percent “did not meet standards.”

Fayette County Hispanic students posted the greatest improvement from last year with 11 percent “not meeting standards”– a six percent drop, 81 percent “meeting standards”– a four percent gain, and nine percent “exceeding standards” – a three percent gain. In comparison to Georgia’s scores, the students performed well above their peers with 30 percent of the state’s students “not meeting standards,” 67 percent “meeting standards,” and three percent “exceeding standards.”

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Fayette Students Score High with End of Course Tests

According to the Fayette County Board of Education, the majority of Fayette’s students are either meeting or exceeding performance requirements for end of course tests based on data released by the Georgia Department of Education.

The spring administration of the test shows students performing strongest in Algebra I, Geometry, American Literature and Composition and Physical Science with the majoring scoring in the “exceeds” category.

In the other subjects tested, Ninth Grade Literature and Composition, Biology, US History and Economics/Business/Free Enterprise, the majority of students scored in the “meets” category.

Overall, Fayette outperformed the state in all subjects tested by 16 to 33 points. The biggest gap between the school system’s average and the state’s was in Physical Science where Fayette’s mean score was 454 compared to the 421 at the state level.

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