About the EOCT

All Georgia public school students enrolled in courses in certain core subject areas must participate in the End of Course Tests.  These subject areas include Algebra I, Geometry, 9^th Grade Literature and Composition, American Literature and Composition, Physical Science, Biology, U.S. History, and Economics.  The content area of each EOCT reflects the curriculum currently in use (9^th Grade Literature and Composition, American Literature and Composition, Physical Science, Biology, U.S. History and Economics aligned GPS; Math aligned QCC).  Scores on the GPS-aligned EOCTs may range from 200 to 750, with a score of 400 or above designating performance that meets the state standard.  Scores on the QCC-aligned EOCTs may range from 400 to 950, with a score of 600 or above designating performance that meets the state standard.  For all EOCT subject areas, students receive a grade-conversion score in addition to the scale score.  This grade conversion score contributes 15% to the student’s final course grade. 

Highlights from the spring 2008 administration of the EOCTs include:

Literature and Composition

• In 9^th Grade Literature & Composition 63% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Six of seven high schools posted gains in the 3 year comparison.
  • Savannah Arts Academy and all participating middle schools exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Mercer Middle and Oglethorpe Academy achieved 100% pass rates.
  • DeRenne Middle achieved a 99% pass rate and posted gains for both 1 and 3 year comparisons.
  • Savannah Arts Academy achieved a 91% pass rate.
  • Johnson High and Savannah High achieved double-digit gains in pass rates compared to last year.
  • Beach High posted a 5 point gain over last year.

• In American Literature and Composition 78% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Savannah Arts and Windsor Forest High surpassed the state’s pass rate.
  • Savannah Arts Academy had a 98% pass rate.
  • Groves High achieved a double-digit gain in pass rate compared to last year.
  • Both Savannah High and Groves had double-digit gains over the 3 year period. 
  • Windsor Forest High posted gains on the 1 and 3 year comparisons.
  • Jenkins High posted a gain on the 1 year comparison.

Science

• In Physical Science 39% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Windsor Forest High exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Groves High posted a 7 point gain on a 1 year comparison and a 15 point gain on the 3 year comparison.
  • Jenkins High posted a 4 point gain on the 3 year comparison.
  • (Savannah Arts Academy had no data reported for Physical Science).

• In Biology 44% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Savannah Arts and Windsor Forest High each surpassed the state pass rate.
  • Jenkins High and Savannah Arts each posted gains over last year.
  • Jenkins High and Beach High posted gains over the 3 year period. 

Mathematics

• In Algebra I 41% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Savannah Arts Academy, Windsor Forest High, and all participating middle schools surpassed the state pass rates.
  • Savannah High posted 1 year and 3 year gains.
  • Beach High posted double-digit gains on both the 1 and 3 year comparisons.
  • Oglethorpe Academy and Southwest Middle School achieved 100% pass rates.
  • Coastal Middle, DeRenne Middle, and Mercer Middle had pass rates above 90%.
  • Bartlett Middle posted a 10 point gain on the 3 year comparison.
  • Oglethorpe Academy posted gains on the 1 and 3 year comparison.
  • Southwest Middle posted a gain on the 3 year comparison.

• In Geometry 38% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Savannah Arts Academy achieved a pass rate of 90%.
  • Savannah High posted a 1 year gain.
  • Jenkins High posted a gain on the 3 year comparison.

Social Studies

• In U.S. History 38% of SCCPSS students met or exceeded the state pass rate.
  • Savannah Arts Academy exceeded the state pass rate.

• In Economics 39% met or exceeded state pass rates.
  • Savannah Arts Academy exceeded the state pass rate.

Overall

• Savannah Arts Academy exceeded the state benchmark in all content areas in which scores were reported.  Windsor Forest High School met or surpassed the state benchmark in four of the eight EOCT subject areas.

• Mercer Middle and Oglethorpe Academy achieved 100% pass rates in 9th Grade Composition & Literature, DeRenne Middle achieved a 99% pass rate. All eight participating middle schools met or exceeded the state pass rate in Algebra I.

• SCCPSS increased district pass rates in 9th Grade Composition & Literature by 3 points in the 1 year comparison and 9 points in the 3 year comparison.

Best Practices

Beach

1. Double blocking math in the ninth grade academy.
2. Non-academy algebra I was taught during the same block by math teachers not in the

academy.  These teachers were placed on common planning and worked together as a data team using data to drive instruction.  Mid-year students were shifted based on their academic progress in the course. 

Johnson

1. PLATO Lab and Ga. Virtual instruction.
2. Teaching the vocabulary.
3. Whole class /whole auditorium before-the-test instruction.
4. Teaching the test the entire semester.
5. Additional instruction opportunities after school and on Saturday.

Jenkins

Biology Best Practices:

1. Use of over-arching themes that allow repetition of major concepts.
2. Hands-on application of concepts through labs with written lab reports.
3. Use of Marzano strategies (compare/contrast, graphic organizers, homework, etc).
4. Implementation of reading strategies (pre-reading, context clues, vocabulary development, SQRRR, etc.).

Constant assessment & evaluation to provide feedback for correction prior to actual grading.

                                         2008 EOCT (Charts and Graphs)