Percentage of Students Passing Georgia High School Writing Test Increases

December 2, 2014 Print This Post

The percentage of 11^th-grade first-time test takers meeting or exceeding the standard on the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT) increased from 94 percent in 2013 to 96 percent this year.

Additionally, each subgroup whose performance was measured—Asian, black, Hispanic, and white students, along with special-education students and English learners—saw an increase in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the standards in 2014.

“Strong writing skills are needed to be able to communicate effectively in all professions, no matter where our students go in life,” State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge said. “It’s very encouraging to see the achievement gap closing and writing proficiency on the rise.”

This year marked the last full administration of the GHSWT. In the future, students’ writing will be assessed through the Georgia Milestones Assessment System.

“As we transition to a new assessment system, students will still be required to show their writing proficiency, but they will participate in one comprehensive testing program, rather than a series of individual tests,” Dr. Barge said.

Highlights from the 2014 GHSWT Results:

96 percent of all grade-11 first-time test takers met or exceeded the standard, a two-percentage-point increase over 2013, and a five-percentage-point increase since 2009
79 percent of special education grade-11 first-time test takers met or exceeded the standard, a nine-percentage-point increase over 2013, and an 18-percentage-point increase since 2009
71 percent of English learner grade-11 first-time test takers met or exceeded the standard, an 11-percentage-point increase over 2013, and a five-percentage-point increase since 2009
95 percent of all students who tested (first-time test takers and those students retesting) met or exceeded the standard, a three-percentage-point increase over 2013, and a six-percentage-point increase since 2009
95 percent of Asian students who tested (first-time test takers and those students retesting) met or exceeded the standard, a one-percentage-point increase over 2013, and a three-percentage-point increase since 2009
93 percent of black students who tested (first-time test takers and those students retesting) met or exceeded the standard, a five-percentage-point increase over 2013, and an eight-percentage-point increase since 2009
94 percent of Hispanic students who tested (first-time test takers and those students retesting) met or exceeded the standard, a four-percentage-point increase over 2013, and an eight-percentage-point increase since 2009

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

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