Gwinnett Students Exceed State Scores on CRCT

Gwinnett County's students once again exceeded state state averages for Georgia's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, or CRCT.

Students in third through eighth grades scored above average in every category: reading, language arts, math, science and social students. Not only were mean scores for each grade level and subject above the state's, but so was the average number of students who met or exceeded the state standard in each of the five test areas. The percentage of students who exceeds state state standards also surpassed Georgia's average scores.

In 2010, Gwinnett County students led CRCT results, as well. 

“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, associate superintendent for Teaching and Learning Support. “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."

The test, administered in April, measures what pupils in third through eighth grades should know and be able to do at their grade levels in the five test areas based on Georgia’s Performance Standards (GPS) curriculum. About 12,000 pupils took the test at each grade level. School-level results will be available in July.

A student’s performance falls into one of three performance levels or standards: Level 1, for students who do not meet the standard; Level 2, for students who meet the standard; and Level 3, for students who exceed standards.

"We will continue to challenge students to achieve at their greatest potential by incorporating strategies such as problem solving, decision making and collaboration," Robbins said.

Grade Level Results (according to the state Department of Education):

Third Grade: Improved the percentage passing in nearly every area tested, and increased the percentage of students scoring in the Level 3 category in every area. The biggest gains were made in language arts, but students scores dropped in science from the previous year.

In reading, 93.9 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 92.2 percent in 2010. The 2011 state average was 90.9 percent. Gwinnett third graders have moved up considerably from five years ago, when just 88.4 percent met or exceeded the standard.

In language arts, 93.5 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 90.9 percent last year. This year's state average was 89.1 percent. Gwinnett third graders have also moved up in this subject, with just 89.3 percent meeting or exceeding standards in 2007.

In math, 86.7 percent met or exceeded standards; in science, 86.8 percent; and in social studies 88.3 percent. The state averages were 81.2 percent, 80.5 percent and 81 percent, respectively. In 2010, Gwinnett students meeting or exceed these standards were: 84.8 percent, 87.1 percent and 86.6 percent, respectively.

Fourth Grade: For those meeting or exceeding standards, students improved over the previous year’s class in nearly every area, with students achieving their biggest gains in math, but stayed stagnant in science.

In reading, 93.5 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 92.9 percent in 2010. The 2011 state average was 87.9 percent. Gwinnett fourth graders have moved up in this category in each of the past five years.

In language arts, 94.2 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 92.5 percent last year. This year's state average was 88 percent. Over the past five years, Gwinnett fourth graders improved each time.

In math, 90.4 percent met or exceeded standards; in science, 90.1 percent; and in social studies, 90.4 percent. The state averages were 81.1 percent, 79 percent and 77.4 percent, respectively. Although, Gwinnet students surpassed their scores from last year in math and social studies, scores were stagnant in science.

Fifth Grade: Students made gains in reading, language arts, math and social studies. In science, Gwinnett students scores were nearly stagnant for those meeting or exceeding standards.

In reading, 94 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 92.3 percent in 2010. The 2011 state average was 90.5 percent. Gwinnett fifth graders have moved up in this category in each of the past five years.

In language arts, 96.6 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 94.3 percent last year. This year's state average was 93 percent. Over the past five years, Gwinnett fourth graders improved each time.

In math, 93.3 percent met or exceeded standards; in science, 86 percent; and in social studies, 82.1 percent. The state averages were 86.6 percent, 76.6 percent and 71.3 percent, respectively. Gwinnett fifth graders made big gains in math compared to 2010, when just 87.5 percent met or exceeded standards.

Sixth Grade: Students made gains in every subject area over results in 2010. However, science and language arts scores were basically stagnant, with only a slight increases for those meeting or exceeding standards.

In reading, 95.7 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 92.7 percent in 2010. The 2011 state average was 93.9 percent. Gwinnett fifth graders in Level 2 or Level 3 have been about 93 or 94 percent since 2007, before gains this year.

In language arts, 93.8 percent met or exceeded the standard, up slightly from 2010. This year's state average was 91 percent. Gwinnett sixth graders fared basically the same in this category over the past three years, after lower scores in 2008 and 2007.

In math, 84.9 percent met or exceeded standards; in science, 82.3 percent; and in social studies, 83.6 percent. The state averages were 76.4 percent, 70.9 percent and 71.6 percent, respectively. In 2010, students in this category were: 82.3 percent, 81.5 percent, and 78.8 percent, respectively.

Seventh Grade: A greater percentage of students met or exceeded standards in every subject over 2010 results. These students had the highest percentage of students to meet or exceed a subject (language arts) throughout the district.

In reading, 95.9 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 93.1 percent in 2010. The 2011 state average was 90.9 percent. Gwinnett seventh graders have made gains in this category over the past five years.

In language arts, 96.9 percent met or exceeded the standard, up from 94.6 percent in 2010. This year's state average was 93.1 percent. Gwinnett seventh graders have made gains in this category over the past five years.

In math, 95.4 percent met or exceeded standards; in science, 92.9 percent; and in social studies, 89.4 percent. The state averages were 89.4 percent, 82.2 percent and 74.9 percent, respectively. In 2010, students in this category were: 92.6 percent, 89.9 percent, and 84.4 percent, respectively.

Eighth Grade: A greater percentage of students scored met or exceeded the standards in every subject except social studies. However, along with seventh-grade students, eighth graders saw the highest percentage of students meeting or exceeding in a subject (reading) throughout the district.

In reading, 97.2 percent met or exceeded the standard, compared to 95.5 percent in 2010. The 2011 state average was 96.0 percent. Gwinnett students made gains in this category over the past five years.

In language arts, 95.4 percent met or exceeded the standard, up from 93.9 percent in 2010. This is the highest level for eighth graders in the past five years. This year's state average was 92.8 percent.

In math, 85.3 percent met or exceeded standards; in science, 78.9 percent; and in social studies, 81.3 percent. The state averages were 77.7 percent, 67.1 percent and 72.5 percent, respectively. In 2010, students scoring in this category were: 83.3 percent, 77.5 percent, and 81.5 percent, respectively.

Also of note, according to Gwinnett County press release:

• At least 41 percent of Gwinnett test-takers at each grade level exceeded the state standard in reading.
• At the elementary level, Gwinnett students raised the percentage achieving in Level 3 on 14 subtests. Of particular note, is at the fourth-grade science level, where 57 percent exceeded the standard.
• 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 Level 3 on 13 subtests. Of particular note, is that 66 percent of seventh graders exceeded state standards in social studies and 59 percent did so in science.