CAIRO — Grady County Schools has received its Georgia High School Graduation Test results.

Cairo High School had 256 11th graders take the graduation test for the first time this year. Eighty-six percent passed English language arts, 94 percent passed math, 82 percent passed science and 77 percent passed social studies (for how the system compares to the state, see chart above).

This is the first year students have been tested (on two areas) with an assessment based completely on Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), and there was a dip in three of the four areas (math had a slight pass increase).

“The possibility was there for a dip in the first year students were tested on the GPS standards because we’ve seen that trend in other grades and content areas,” Martha Fowler, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said Thursday. “The state cautions us in comparing tests year to year because we are moving from Quality Core Curriculum (QCC, the former universal standards) to GPS and there is a difference in the rigor of the test. It is the same way all over the state. We’ve got to look at the curriculum maps and unit plans at the high school and make sure teachers are following the standards.”

English and science are strictly GPS now; math is still QCC. Fowler said next year’s ninth graders in math one will begin receiving GPS instruction (math will be GPS the year they take the test). Social Studies is a “transitional test,” she said, meaning it incorporates both GPS and QCC information.

“GPS is more of an application of knowledge where QCC is more learning facts,” Fowler explained.

Tammy Donalson, instructional coordinator at CHS, is proud of teachers and students.

“I think, this past year, our teachers did a great job in trying to do some intervention with our math students before they took the test and they will continue that,” she explained. “I think what is important in the other subjects is we continue to improve on teaching Georgia Performance Standards. We are going to make an effort in our improvement plan to get closer and closer to that standards-based school.”

She also warned against comparing scores from previous years to those in 2008.

“I think we have to be very careful in comparing apples to oranges,” Donalson said. “It was the goal of our state superintendent and department of education to increase the rigor in our curriculum, and I think they’ve done that. Our job is to meet that expectation.”

Educators said the most important thing is helping students pass the test.

“We still have students who have not passed the test and our goal is for every student at Cairo High School to reach that passing score,” Fowler said. “Every teacher and administrator will be working on remediation and additional instruction to help the students who have not passed the test. We’re looking at a number of different ways to ensure students reach that goal.”

The system will also have a “Data Day” June 5 where every school will be represented and data from state assessments, local student rates and other information will be examined (including specifics about what areas of english and social studies students are struggling with and looking at curriculum maps).

Donalson said the system should celebrate its improvements and continue to work on other areas.

“I think we should be proud and celebrate those positive things where we did improve,” she stressed. “When we fall short in a particular area, it is very important to do what we can to provide the necessary means to help those kids. We stay with them, continue remediation and get them ready to pass the next time.”