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Georgia's Students Show Steady Growth on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

 4th Grade Reading Scores Above the Nation     MEDIA CONTACT:  Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358,  mcardoza@gadoe.org   - Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook     November 1, 2011  -- Georgia's students showed steady growth from 2009 in three of the four areas tested, according to national test results released today.   The results of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show Georgia's students improving in 4th grade reading and math, 8th grade reading, and making no change in 8th grade math. Georgia had higher results than the nation on the 4th grade reading test (221 scale score compared to the nation's 220).   "The fact that our students showed improvement on a test with a nationally-set cut score is encouraging and demonstrates that Georgia's students are making great strides in competing with the rest of the nation," State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge said. "I am especially pleased that Georgia's 4th grade students are outperforming other students from across the nation in reading. It is my belief that, as we transition to the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, we will continue to see this kind of positive growth."     READING     Key Findings in Grade 4 Reading   • The average reading score for students in Georgia was 221. This was an increase of three points from 2009 (218) and significantly higher than the score in 2005 (214).  • Georgia's average score in 2011 (221) was one point higher than that of the nation's average score (220).  • The average reading score for White students in Georgia increased from 229 in 2009 to 231 in 2011. The average score for Black students increased from 204 in 2009 to 208 in 2011. The average score for Hispanic students increased from 208 in 2009 to 214 in 2011.  • The average reading score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program increased from 207 in 2009 to 209 in 2011.  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 66 percent, a three percentage point increase from 2009 (63 percent) and an eight percentage point increase from 2005 (58 percent).  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 32 percent, a three percentage point increase from 2009 (29 percent) and a four percentage point increase from 2007 (28 percent).  • Georgia had the 29th highest score out of all states and the District of Columbia.    Key Findings in Grade 8 Reading   • The average reading score for students in Georgia was 262. This was an increase of two points from 2009 (260) and significantly higher than 2007 (259).  • Georgia's average score in 2011 (262) was two points lower than that of the nation's average score (264).  • The average reading score for White students in Georgia (272) was four points higher than the score in 2009 (268). Black students’ average score increased two points from 2009 (249) to 2011 (251). Scores for Hispanic students increased four points from 2009 (254) to 2011 (258).  • The average reading score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program in Georgia increased four points from 2009 (249) to 2011 (253).  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 74 percent, a two percentage point increase from 2009 (72 percent) and a four percentage point increase from 2007 (70 percent).  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 28 percent, a one percentage point increase from 2009 (27 percent).  • Georgia had the 35th highest score out of all states and the District of Columbia.     MATH     Key Findings in Grade 4 Math   • The average mathematics score for students in Georgia was 238. This was an increase of two points from 2009 (236).  • Georgia's average score in 2011 (238) was two points lower than that of the nation's average score (240).  • The average mathematics score for White students in Georgia increased two points from 247 in 2009 to 249 in 2011. The average score for Black students increased three points from 221 in 2009 to 224 in 2011. The average score for Hispanic students increased two points from 231 in 2009 to 233 in 2011.  • The average mathematics score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program increased two points from 225 in 2009 to 227 in 2011.  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 80 percent, a two percentage point increase from 2009 (78 percent).  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 37 percent, a three percentage point increase from 2009 (34 percent).  • Georgia had the 36th highest score out of all states and the District of Columbia.    Key Findings in Grade 8 Math   • The average mathematics score for students in Georgia was 278, demonstrating no change from 2009.  • Georgia's average score in 2011 (278) was five points lower than that of the nation's average score (283).  • The average mathematics score for White students in Georgia increased two points from 289 in 2009 to 291 in 2011. Black students’ average score remained the same at 262 in 2009 and 2011. Scores for Hispanic students increased seven points from 270 in 2009 to 277 in 2011.  • The average mathematics score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program in Georgia increased two points from 265 in 2009 to 267 in 2011.  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic increased one percentage point from 67 percent in 2009 to 68 percent in 2011.  • The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 28 percent, a one percentage point increase from 2009 (27 percent).  • Georgia had the 43rd highest score out of all states and the District of Columbia.     MORE INFORMATION  :  - National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) website:  http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/       GEORGIA REPORTS     4th Grade Reading     8th Grade Reading     4th Grade Math     8th Grade Math  
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