Gwinnett Middle School Students Score Well in State Writing Test

Middle school students in Gwinnett County scored well in the recent state writing test, administered in January.

More than 12,600 students took the test in January 2013, and Gwinnett County Public Schools released overall results on March 25.

Overall, the district’s average passing rate (met or exceeds standard) remains high and increased one percentage point this year, from 93 percent in 2012 to 94 percent now, according to officials. Statewide, 82 percent met or exceeded the standard. (See Table 1 below.)

In addition, 15 percent of Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) students scored in the "exceeds" performance level, officials said. This is compared with just six percent across the state.

Officials also said that a fewer percentage of GCPS students scored in the "does not meet" category than the state. In Gwinnett County, six percent landed in this area; in the state, 18 percent did.

(See Table 2 below for results separated by race/ethnic groups, as well as English learners and special education.)

Historically, GCPS eighth-grade students have scored well on the state writing test.

In Gwinnett, the state writing test serves as a local promotion requirement for eighth-grade students. They must "meet" or "exceed" state standards in order to earn promotion to ninth grade.

Table 1: Writing Test Scores Overall

Table 2: Percentage of Students in the Meets and Exceeds Performance Levels

Hispanic

Native American

Check out the PDF in the media gallery to see how your child's school fared.