Georgia CRCT Scores Show Improvement

More Georgia students are not only passing but exceeding standards on tests used to measure academic achievements, according to 2011 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests scores released by the Georgia Department of Education on Thursday.

Students in first through eighth grade are assessed in mathematics, reading, and language arts.  In addition, students in grades three through eight are tested in science and social studies.

Twenty-three tests out of 30 reflected a one-year improvement over 2010's results, five tests remained the same and two showed decreases.

State law mandates that third-graders, fifth-graders, and eighth-graders pass the tests in certain subject areas in order to be promoted to the next grade level.  More students are achieving this on their first attempt than ever before, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Education.

“I am encouraged that the CRCT results show many more of our students mastering a more rigorous curriculum,” State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge said in the news release. “The credit for these tremendous results goes back to the local level, where they have raised the bar for all students.”

System-wide results are expected to be released by June 22, and individual school results will be available by July 6.