Some Gains in Marietta CRCT Scores

Students in Marietta City Schools posted scores in the 2013 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests that were generally higher than last year, but there were slight drops in some subject areas. 

The Georgia Department of Education released systemwide scores on Tuesday. More than 90 percent of Marietta students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded standards in the reading and English/language arts portions of the test. The results were mixed in other areas. 

The biggest gains were in 5th grade social studies. In 2012 only 72 percent of Marietta students met or exceeded standards in that subject; for this year the figure rose to 83 percent. 

In 8th grade, only 78 percent Marietta students met or exceeded social science standards. In math, the rate was 75 percent and even lower in science at 68 percent. 

Superintendent Emily Lembeck told The Marietta Daily Journal that Marietta students surpassed statewide scores in 77 percent of the tests, compared to 63 percent a year ago. 

The CRCT results have been used by the state to determine how schools were meeting federal No Child Left Behind goals. Last year Georgia received a waiver to form an alternate scheme that includes CRCT and other components.

Students across the state were tested this spring in grades three through eight in five CRCT subject areas: reading, English/language arts, mathematics, science and social science. 

School-by-school results will be available early next month.

The following numbers are the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards in each subject area, by grade:

• 3rd Grade: Reading 92; English/LA 88; Math 84; Science 78; Social Science 85.
• 4th Grade: Reading 93; English/LA 91; Math 84; Science 80; Social Science 79.
  
• 5th Grade: Reading 94; English/LA; 95; Math 93; Science 82; Social Science 83.
  
• 6th Grade: Reading 97; English/LA 95; Math 91; Science 81; Social Science 87.
  
• 7th Grade: Reading 96; English/LA 95; Math 94; Science 86; Social Science 91.
  
• 8th Grade: Reading 97; English/LA 94; Math 75; Science 68; Social Science 78.