About the GHSGT

Georgia public school students are required to pass all portions of the GHSGT in order to be eligible to receive a high school diploma.  These tests cover the specific content areas of English/language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science, in addition to a separately administered assessment in writing.  The GHSGT are being aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) according to the GPS implementation schedule.  In each content area, as tests are exclusively aligned to GPS, new standard settings will take place and new cut scores and scale score ranges will be established.  Students typically take the GHSGT for the first time in the spring semester of their junior year.

Highlights from the spring 2009 administration of the GHSGT include:

English/Language Arts

• 87% of SCCPSS 11^th graders passed the ELA portion of the graduation test on the first attempt.
• The system increased one percentage point from 2008 while the state remained the same.
• 4 high schools had a passing rate greater than or equal to the state average.

Mathematics

• 90% of SCCPSS 11^th graders passed the math portion of the graduation test on the first attempt.
• Jenkins and Windsor Forest high schools both increased 7 percentage points from 2008.
• Jenkins, Windsor Forest and Savannah Arts had passing rates greater than or equal to the state.

Social Studies

• 80% of SCCPSS 11^th graders passed the social studies portion of the GHSGT on the first attempt.
• The 80% pass rate is 3 percentage points increase from 2008.
• Jenkins increased by 7 percentage points and Johnson increased 8 percentage points from 2008.
• 6 of the 7 high schools increased their passing rate from 2008 to 2009 ranging from 2 to 8 percentage points.
• Johnson, Windsor Forest and Savannah Arts had passing rates greater than the state.

Science

• 80% of SCCPSS 11^th graders passed the science portion of the GHSGT on the first attempt.
• The 80% pass rate is 3 percentage points increase from 2008.
• 4 of the 7 high schools increased their passing rate from 2008 to 2009 ranging from 4 to 8 percentage points
• Windsor Forest and Savannah Arts had passing rates greater than the state.

All GHSGT Content Areas

• Savannah Arts Academy has achieved a 100% pass rate on all four sections of the GHSGT surpassing all pass rates for the.
• Windsor Forest exceeded the state pass rates in all areas.
• Johnson high school pass rates are above those of the state in the areas of English/language arts and social studies.  Jenkins high school pass rates are at those of the state in the areas of English/language arts and mathematics.

SCCPSS district pass rates increased in English/language arts and mathematics by one percentage point and increased in social studies and science by three percentage points.

GHSGT Charts and Graphs (Spring 09)