Cherokee's End Of Course Test Scores Improve Despite New Common Core Assessment

The Cherokee County School District (CCSD) was once again able to improve upon the state average in the 2013 End Of Course Tests (EOCT) despite a new math assessment that proved challenging to all students.

Students in middle and high school were tested on coordinate algebra and physical science, while high school students were additionally tested on geometry, literature, biology, U.S. History, and economics.

The result of each EOCT test made up 20 percent of the final grade of any student who started ninth grade on or after July 1, 2011, and 15 percent of the final grade of any student who started ninth grade before that date.

CCSD test takers outdid the state averages in all areas, including the coordinate algebra test, which is the first Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (or Common Core) assessment students have taken in the state.

Although only 57 percent of CCSD students passed the coordinate algebra EOCT, this compares favorably with the 40 percent pass rate statewide.

Administrators who spoke to Patch said that the relatively low scores were due to teaching to the old curriculum yet being tested on the new one.

"If you're teaching a student by giving multiple choice exams every day in class, that student is going to struggle when asked to write a comparative essay on the assessment," said River Ridge High School Principal Darrell Herring.

Herring went on to credit his Common Core math teachers, whose extensive planning helped River Ridge earn a 59 percent pass rate on the new assessment. This was second only to Sequoyah High School's 60 percent.

"In response to the Coordinate Algebra scores from across the state, the Georgia Department of Education has granted schools unparalleled flexibility to retest, which we plan to implement along with structured tutoring opportunities, for our students," wrote Cherokee High School Principal Debra Murdock. 

"As the curriculum standards and test were new this year, we will continue to make the training of our teachers and preparation for our students are highest priority."

Only 32 percent of Cherokee High School students who took the coordinate algebra assessment earned a passing grade.

Administrators across the district and the state are working hand-in-hand to adapt their lesson plans to the new Common Core curriculum. Herring said that once his team is able to analyze the data more thoroughly, they will create better plans to suit the changing educational environment.

"If the majority of students do poorly on a chapter test and repeat that performance on the EOCT, we need to look at the way we're teaching that chapter," he said.

Despite the growing pains of Common Core, the district managed to outperform the state averages in the more traditional assessments as well.

The largest gains over the state average were seen in geometry (90 percent to 78 percent), biology (91 percent to 78 percent), U.S. History (89 percent to 75 percent), and economics (95 percent to 81 percent).

Cherokee's special education students blew the doors off the state averages, besting their peers by as many as 39 percentage points in some areas.

"This performance clearly indicates that CCSD staff, students and parents are working to ensure that every student masters student performance standards and gains the knowledge needed to pursue higher education and successful careers in today's global marketplace," wrote Cherokee Schools Superintendent Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo in a memo (which is attached to this article).

Cherokee County Council PTA Vice President Donna High echoed the sentiments of the school district.

"It is very exciting to see the hard work of the students and the teachers of Cherokee County be reflected in the amazing EOTC scores," she wrote. "Cherokee County Council PTA is very proud to be apart [sic] of this amazing school system."

Both Dr. Petruzielo's memo to the Cherokee County School Board and the comprehensive 2012-13 EOCT results for CCSD have been attached to this article.