Local schools show improvement in Georgia Milestones scores

Dublin City and Laurens County students continued to show improvement in Georgia Milestones test scores released last month.

Among third- and eighth-graders, Laurens County outperformed the state average in English-language arts, reading and science. The system’s eighth-graders posted the 10th best score in the state in science, with 51 percent of students testing as a proficient or distinguished learner.

Dublin third- and eighth-graders showed marked improvement in other subjects, as well, but still fell short of the state averages.

Georgia Milestones consist of end-of-course measures used to assess student progress in grades 3-8 and some high school courses. Statewide, Milestone scores plummeted during the COVID pandemic but have trended upward and continued to improve this year.

Math scores were unavailable until later this fall, but here’s how local systems fared:

LAURENS COUNTY SCHOOLS

Eighth-graders posted the biggest achievement with its top 10 science score, but the system bested the state average in the other subjects, as well.

Half of the eighth grade students (50 percent) tested as proficient or above in social studies, up from 43 percent, and compared to 37 percent for the state. In English/language arts, 46 percent were proficient or above, a 2 percent improvement from last year. The state average was 45 percent.

It wasn’t all good: The percentage of eighth-graders reading or above grade level dropped to 72 percent, the same as the statewide average but down from 75 percent last year.

Among third-graders, 71 percent read at grade level or better, up from 66 percent. The state average was 64 percent.

In English/language arts, 46 percent of third-graders tested as proficient or better, compared to 38 percent statewide and up from 38 percent last year. 

DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS

The good news: Students in both third and eight grades posted double-digit improvement in the reading scores and tested significantly better in other areas tested.

Among third-graders, 60 percent scored as reading at grade-level or above – up from 50 percent in 2023. Eighth-graders showed even more improvement, with 63 percent reading at grade-level or above

In English/language arts, 38 percent of eighth-graders tested as proficient or better, up from 29 percent last year. Third grade students also improved, with 28 percent of third-graders tested as proficient or better, up from 21 percent last year.

Eighth grade students also marked improvement in social studies, with 23 percent at proficient or better (up from 16 percent).

Now, the bad news: The city’s scores still lag behind the state average, despite the improvements. Eighth graders improved their science scores with 5 percent, but that to just 12 percent as proficient or better, up from just 7 percent a year ago. The statewide score was 26 percent.

STATEWIDE

The 2023-24 results showed scores increased or held steady in 10 of 13 assessments in English/language arts (ELA), science, and social studies. Because math assessments were updated to align with the new K-12 mathematics standards first implemented during the school year just ended, Milestones math scores won’t be released until this fall.