Trend Data 
 
EDUCATED 
- IMPROVE School Performance 
GOCF outcome indicator: Student Achievement 
 for middle school students 
Grades 6-8 continue to take Criterion-Referenced Comprehension Tests (CRCT) in Georgia. Similar to the latter years of elementary school, middle school CRCT assess the subject areas of Reading, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. The CRCT for middle school students is also administered towards the end of the school year. In addition to the CRCT, eighth grade students are also evaluated on their writing skills via the Eighth Grade Writing Assessment (EGWA). 
 
Georgia 8th Grade Students That Scored Either "Meets" Or "Exceeds" On CRCT* 
100% 
 
90% 
 
Math 
 
80% 
 
Science 
 
70% 
 
Reading 
 
60% 
 
EGWA 
 
50% 
 
2006-2007 
 
2007-2008 
 
2008-2009 
 
*Students scored either "On Target" or "Exceeds Target" for 
 
Data Source: The Governor's Office of Student Achievement, 2010. 
 
Although students are given writing assessments in both third and fifth grade prior to this test, middle school students are evaluated on their persuasive and expository writing skills. A standardized, analytic scoring system is used for the students' essays based on four domains: Ideas, Organization, Style, and Conventions. Whereas the CRCT are taken close to the end of the school year, the EGWA is issued in January. The scores of these assessments are tracked and reported by each school, compiling baseline yearly data that show the percentage of students who do not meet, meet, and exceed the GPS for their respective grade level. 
 
 Since 2006, students that identified as Black or Hispanic are consistently "below target" for the EGWA.  From 2006-2009, less than 50% of all middle school students with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and migrant 
students taking the EGWA have been classified as "on target" or "exceeds target."  Roughly 90% of all 6th grade students taking the CRCT were either "on target" or "exceeds target" for the subject of Reading. 
 
Data Source: The Georgia Department of Education, 2010. 
 
May 2010