Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Performance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newton County Schools reports academic gains on Georgia Milestones; board requests comparable year-to-year slides
Summary
Dr. Ashanti Everett told the board the district improved in 10 of 20 tested subject areas in 2024–25, highlighting double-digit elementary gains and sustained AP participation; a board member asked administration to supply slides formatted identically to last year for direct comparison.
Dr. Ashanti Everett presented the district’s Georgia Milestones Assessment System results for 2024–25, telling the board the district improved in 10 of 20 tested subject areas and that the gains represent “momentum” the district hopes to sustain.
“The Georgia Milestones is a series of state-required examinations,” Dr. Everett said, adding that the district views test data “as a tool, something that helps us improve instruction” and that “a data point alone does not tell the full story of a student.”
The presentation called out notable school-level increases: West Newton Elementary recorded a 25-point increase in fifth-grade mathematics; Flint Hill posted a 22-point gain in third-grade reading; Oak Hill showed a 14-point rise in fourth-grade language arts. At the middle-school level, Cousins Middle School registered a 16-point gain in seventh-grade reading and a 27-point increase in eighth-grade social studies. High-school results were mixed but included a 7-point increase in algebra at Newton High School and growth in biology across the district’s high schools.
Everett said the district is focusing on measuring progress over time and on areas that are foundational to later success, such as early literacy and numeracy. She emphasized the district is including students at the "developing and above" level in current reporting to better reflect gains made when students shift performance bands.
A board member raised concerns that this year’s presentation (which counts "developing and above") differs from last year’s reporting and asked the administration for an additional slide formatted identically to the previous year so trustees and the public can compare progress directly. Everett and administration agreed to provide a full report and the requested comparative slides.
The presentation also noted districtwide increases in AP participation and pass rates and highlighted that multiple high schools are now recognized as AP honor schools; the administration said recognition ceremonies will be spread across meetings because of the number of honorees. The board did not take action; members asked for the supplemental materials and for clarification on presentation methodology.
