Georgia’s Schools Grades Fall; Leaders Call For Overhaul
Overall grades for Georgia’s schools fell in the 2018-2019 school year, with two state leaders repeating their call to overhaul grading methods.
The typical school statewide scored 75.9 points on a 100-point scale, down from 76.6 points last year. Performance rose in high schools, but fell slightly in elementary schools and more broadly in middle schools.
Georgia’s system seeks to grade schools on student content mastery, academic progress and readiness, whether underperforming groups are closing gaps, and whether high school students graduate on time.
State officials say scores fell because of lower scores on progress and closing gaps.
Both state Superintendent Richard Woods and Gov. Brian Kemp say they want changes, with Woods repeating his call for a way to measure schools that relies less on standardized test scores.