5 things to know about Georgia students’ latest test scores

Here are some takeaways from the results.

Scores trended upward despite COVID

When schools shifted to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, many students fell behind. Educators worried it would take years to correct what some referred to as “the COVID slide.”

At the same time, some metro Atlanta districts used federal stimulus money to invest in literacy and tutoring. The Georgia Department of Education also placed literacy coaches in high-needs schools, which officials said made a difference.

“We’ve also observed increases in … (English/Language Arts) and grade level reading results for many of these schools,” said Allison Timberlake, deputy superintendent for assessment and accountability at the department.

More students reading on grade level, but English is flat

This is a little tricky to explain. Students’ reading levels are tested as part of the Georgia Milestones English/Language Arts assessment. The Georgia Department of Education pulls reading scores out and reports them separately.

In most cases, there was a gap between students’ reading levels and ELA scores. For example, 65% of Georgia third graders were on or above grade level in reading, but just 35% were at or above grade level on the ELA test as a whole.

Math scores improved overall

When Georgia introduced new K-12 math standards during the 2023-24 school year, state officials warned scores may drop. That typically happens during such a transition.

However, scores held steady last year. Although third grade scores dropped a percentage point during the 2024-25 school year, every other grade level made gains in math.

Students are improving in other subjects, too

Reading and math scores grab a lot of attention, but Georgia students made some gains in science and social studies, also. Students don’t take those exams every year, like they do with ELA and math.

For instance, they take science tests in grades five and eight, and biology in high school. Scores in those subjects mostly trended upward, with the most impressive gains made by eighth graders who took high school physical science. They improved six percentage points, with 57% of test takers scoring at or above grade level.

Students take fewer tests now

Georgia used to require 32 standardized tests, but that number has been cut to 20 over the years. Test results used to be tied to teachers’ annual evaluations.

After parents and educators rallied legislators about the number of anxiety-inducing exams, lawmakers passed legislation in 2016 that reduced high-stakes assessments and diminished the effects of scores on teachers’ evaluations.