GCS Releases Preliminary EOC and EOG Results

Guilford County Schools (GCS) made significant progress on End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) tests during the 2008-09 year, according to preliminary results released Tuesday by the district.

Gains made at the elementary and middle school levels are particularly impressive. GCS increased in all 10 subgroups on the EOGs, experiencing double-digit growth in eight out of the 10 subgroups. GCS showed improvement in all 14 EOG categories/tests. Subgroups are different population groups within a school or district.

On the EOGs, the percentage of students shown as proficient increased by 11 points in reading, from 54 percent in 2008 to 65 percent in 2009. In math, the district-wide gain was 9.6 points, from 70 percent to 79.9 percent.

Forty-nine of the district’s elementary and middle schools made reading and math composite gains greater than 10 points. Among them, 11 schools made gains greater than 15 points.

In science, the district-wide gain was 13.3 percentage points for fifth grade, from 42.5 percent in 2008 up to 55.8 percent in 2009. For eighth grade, scores increased by 10.1 percentage points, from 51.2 percent in 2008 up to 61.3 in 2009.

Results also show that the gap between African-American and white students has narrowed in both reading and math. In 2007-08, there was a 37.1 percentage gap for reading and a 29.3 percentage gap for math. The latest results show a 33.1 percentage gap for reading and a 22.6 percentage gap for math. “It is exciting to see that we are making progress in closing the achievement gap,” said Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “To eliminate this gap completely, we need to accelerate academic growth even faster.”

GCS showed improvement in six out of 10 categories at the high school level. Out of the 25 high schools, 11 showed improvement by five points over last year. Five of the schools showed improvement by 10 points.

Scores progressed significantly for three EOC tests—U.S. History, Chemistry and Geometry. Scores decreased for four EOC tests. Those tests were Algebra 1, English I, Civics and Economics, and Physical Science.

“Overall, I am proud of our students and staff for showing significant improvement this year,” said Green. “As a district, we recognize we still have a lot of work to do. We will not settle for anything less than educational excellence for every child in every school.”

To increase student achievement, the district is focusing on various strategies, several of them outlined in the strategic plan. By 2012, the district’s goal is for 81 percent of students to be proficient on EOG reading tests and 88 percent of students to be proficient level on EOG math tests. In addition, the district wants to have 74 percent of students in fifth grade and 77 percent of students in eighth grade being proficient on the science EOG by 2012.

Another goal in the plan is for 89 percent of students to be proficient on all EOC exams.

EOGs, required by the state, are given at the end of the year in grades three through eight in reading, math and science. EOCs are given in 10 subject areas for middle and high school students, with five of the 10 tests counting as part of the new graduation standards set by the state.

To view the EOG science test results, click here.

To view the EOG math and reading test results, click here.

To view the EOC test results, click here.

To view the EOC/EOG presentation, click here.

To view the media briefing, click here.