Ga. Students Hold Steady, Move Closer to National Averages on NAEP

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Georgia’s students showed slight gains from 2011 in all four areas tested, according to national test results released today.

The results of the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show Georgia’s students improving in 4th grade reading and math, as well as 8th grade reading and math. Georgia had higher results than the nation on the 4th grade reading test (222 scale score compared to the nation’s 221).

In addition to making gains on the overall scale score, the percentage of Georgia’s students scoring at Advanced levels increased from 2011 in each of the grades and content areas: 4th grade reading (+2 points), 4th grade math (+1 point), 8th grade reading (+2 points), and 8th grade math (+1 point).

“The results from this year’s National Assessment of Education Progress show that Georgia’s students are making gains, but we must continue that progress to ensure our students are prepared for life after high school, whether that be college or right into the workforce,” State School Superintendent John Barge said. “I am most proud of the gains our students showed in scoring at advanced levels in each of the grades and subjects tested.”

Key Findings in Grade 4 Reading

  • The average reading score for students in Georgia was 222.  This was a one point increase from the score in 2011 (221) and a four point increase from the score in 2009 (218).
  • Georgia’s average score in 2013 (222) was one point higher than that of the nation’s public schools (221).
  • The average reading score for White students in Georgia increased from 231 in 2011 to 233 in 2013.  The average score for Black students increased from 208 in 2011 to 209 in 2013.  The average score for Hispanic students decrease from 214 in 2011 to 213 in 2013.
  • The average reading score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program increased from 209 in 2011 to 211 in 2013.
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 67 percent. This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (66 percent), and a four percentage point increase from 2009 (63 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (67 percent) matched the percentage at or above Basic for the nation’s public schools (67 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 34 percent. This was a two point increase from 2011 (32 percent), and a five point increase from 2009 (29 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (34 percent) matched the percentage at or above Proficient for the nation’s public schools (34 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 9 percent. This was a two point increase from 2011 (7 percent), and a three point increase from 2009 (6 percent).
Key Findings in Grade 8 Reading

  • The average reading score for students in Georgia was 265. This was a three point increase from the score in 2011 (262) and a five point increase from 2009 (260).
  • Georgia’s average score (265) was one point lower than that of the nation’s public schools (266).
  • The average reading score for White students in Georgia increased from 272 in 2011 to 274 in 2013.  Black students’ average score increased from 251 in 2011 to 252 in 2013.  Scores for Hispanic students increased from 258 in 2011 to 260 in 2013. 
  • The average reading score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program in Georgia increased from 253 in 2011 to 255 in 2013.
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 75 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (74 percent) and a three percentage point increase from 2009 (72 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (75 percent) was two percentage points lower than the nation’s public schools (77 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 32 percent. This was a four percentage point increase from 2011 (28 percent), and a five percentage point increase from 2009 (27 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (32 percent) was two percentage points lower than the nation’s public schools (34 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 4 percent. This was a two percentage point increase from 2011 (2 percent) and 2009 (2 percent).

Key Findings in Grade 4 Mathematics

  • The average mathematics score for students in Georgia was 240.  This was a two point increase from the score in 2011 (238) and a four point increase from 2009 (236).
  • Georgia’s average score in 2013 (240) was one point lower than that of the nation’s public schools (241).
  • The average mathematics score for White students in Georgia increased from 249 in 2011 to 250 in 2013.  The average score for Black students increased from 224 in 2011 to 226 in 2013.  The average score for Hispanic students increased from 233 in 2011 to 235 in 2013. 
  • The average mathematics score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program was 227 in 2011 and 230 in 2013.
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 81 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (80 percent) and a three percentage point increase from 2009 (78 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (81 percent) was one percentage point lower than the nation’s public schools (82 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 39 percent.  This was a two percentage point increase from 2011 (37 percent), and a five percentage point increase from 2009 (34 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (39 percent) was two percentage points lower than the nation’s public schools (41 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 7 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (6 percent), and a two percentage point increase from 2009 (5 percent).

Key Findings in Grade 8 Mathematics

  • The average mathematics score for students in Georgia was 279. This was a one point increase from the score in 2011 (278) and 2009 (278).
  • Georgia’s average score (279) was five points lower than that of the nation’s public schools (284).
  • The average mathematics score for White students in Georgia increased from 291 in 2011 to 292 in 2013.  Black students’ average score remained the same at 262 in 2011 and 2013.  Scores for Hispanic students decreased one scale score point from 277 in 2011 to 276 in 2013. 
  • The average mathematics score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program in Georgia was unchanged at 267 from 2011 to 2013. 
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 68 percent.  This was unchanged from 2011 (68 percent) and a one percentage point increase from 2009 (67 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (68 percent) was five percentage points lower than the nation’s public schools (73 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 29 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (28 percent) and a two percentage point increase from 2009 (27 percent).
  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (29 percent) was five percentage points lower than the nation’s public schools (34 percent).
  • In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 7 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (6 percent), and a two percentage point increase from 2009 (5 percent).

More Information
NAEP website

Georgia Reports

Read more about Georgia’s NAEP scores in Get Schooled with Maureen Downey.
Contact:

Matt Cardoza
GaDOE Communications Office
404-651-7358
mcardoza@gadoe.org

Bill Valladares
GaFCP Communications Director
404-527-7394 (x113)
william@gafcp.org

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