By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
Milestones scores still delayed for some Forsyth County high school students
Report cards may be late
FCS

FORSYTH COUNTY – A number of high school students are entering summer without knowing how they scored on certain standardized assessments due to a delay in the state delivering results.

As of Tuesday, Forsyth County Schools had not received 120 English language arts End of Course, or EOC, exams from the Georgia Department of Education.

“Like schools and parents, we are greatly disappointed, as we planned and worked with our testing coordinator to deliver a two-week turnaround,” State Schools Superintendent Richard Woods said in a written statement to school districts on Friday, May 27. “That obviously did not happen for many districts, so we will be conducting a thorough review as soon as possible to address these issues and streamline the process.”

EOC exams are part of the Georgia Milestones assessment system. It replaced the CRCT tests two years ago.

In its inaugural year in the 2014-2015 school year, results were not released until the 2015-2016 school year had already started.

That timing was expected and advertised throughout the year, with promotion and retention requirements relating to the Milestones scores begin waived.

Those requirements also ended up being waived this year.

“Though the scores are delayed, the test is valid,” said Jennifer Caracciolo, spokeswoman for the school district. “As of [Tuesday], we have not received a number of geometry, 9th grade literature and American literature EOC scores.”

On Saturday, May 28, the school system received 2,250 EOC scores. On Monday, 150 were still delayed. Since then, 30 have come in.

Of the 150, 103 were scores for ninth-graders, Caracciolo said, as the state prioritized seniors.

According to the most recent monthly attendance report from the district, 12,744 high schoolers are enrolled in Forsyth County Schools.

She said the district was told the remaining scores will be delivered by the end of this week.

Students whose scores are not received prior to the deadline to deliver report cards on Friday will be contacted by their school.

There was some confusion about what effect the delay had on students.

“A few parents have expressed concern about their child not knowing whether to take the final exam because of the delay,” Caracciolo said. “The EOC has no bearing on exam exemption. Students may be exempt from the final exam based on their first and second semester averages.”

A student is not required to take the final exam if he or she averages a 90 or above in the course.

“The EOC grade,” she said, “is not calculated into semester averages.”