Local Schools Top, Fall Short of State Average in New Achievement Test

The first test of Georgia's alternative to No Child Left Behind has yielded fairly good marks for Cartersville schools and a mixed bag for the Bartow County school system.

According to the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), students at the elementary, middle and high school levels of Cartersville's public school system and the elementary level of Bartow's topped the state average on a wide-ranging accountability spectrum.

The index grades each school in the state on a 100-point scale, measuring achievement (70 points) and tracking progress points (15 points) and achievement gap points (15 points).

The statewide average is 83.4 for elementary schools, 81.4 for middle schools and 72.6 for high schools.

Cartersville Schools averaged a score of 86.1 at the elementary level, which apparently includes both Cartersville Primary and Elementary schools, while Cartersville Middle reached 85.1 and Cartersville High, a 79.4.

Bartow County Schools averaged 84.9 at the elementary level, but fell below the state averages in the middle grades, with a score of 80.6, and in the high schools, with a 68.4. County middle and high schools' scores are:

But it may be too early to say which scores are significantly lower or higher than statewide averages. That's because the CCRPI replaces the Adequate Yearly Progress reports that last year were part of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Georgia received a waiver from AYP but was required to create an alternative measurement, now in its first year.

"This is establishing our baseline, so I would hesitate to say [for example] three points is significant because I would want to wait and see next year how all of our schools perform compared to this year to know if three points is significant or if 10 points is significant,” State School Superintendent and former Bartow Schools administrator John Barge said The Daily Tribune News reports. “It will really depend on how all of those schools perform year to year.”

The new index includes not only test results, which was a significant component of AYP results, but rates schools for student achievement (state standardized tests, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates, core courses passed, AP, career pathways), academic progress over time (yearly growth in achievement) and closing achievement gaps for specific student groups (such as English language learners, students with disabilities, specific ethnic groups and the overall Georgia student population).

While AYP test results came from language arts and math testing, CCRPI also incorporates math and science assessments into each school's score.

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