(AUGUSTA, GEORGIA) – More than 13,000 Richmond County students participated in Georgia Milestones testing during the 2024–2025 school year, with data showing systemwide gains in key subject areas in elementary, middle and high school levels.

“Schools across the district demonstrated improvement in key content areas, including systemwide growth in algebra, American literature and biology,” said Dr. Malinda Cobb, interim superintendent of schools. “Georgia Milestones data is one of many tools we use to understand how our students are progressing, and this year’s results are a reflection of our students’ hard work and the commitment of our teachers, leaders and families.”

Districtwide, students improved performance on End of Course (EOC) assessments in Algebra I, American literature and biology. Middle school students also posted strong results, with students in grades 4 through 8 showing gains in mathematics on the End of Grade (EOG) assessments. Fifth-grade students improved in science, while eighth graders saw growth in both science and social studies.

Several schools reported subject-area gains across multiple disciplines:

• In American literature, improved scores were reported at Cross Creek High School, Glenn Hills High School, Hephzibah High School, Lucy C. Laney High School, T.W. Josey High School and Westside High School.

• In algebra, gains were seen at the Academy of Richmond County (ARC), Cross Creek High, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Glenn Hills High, Hephzibah High, A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School and T.W. Josey High.

• Middle schools showing improvement in Algebra: Concepts and Connections included Freedom Park K–8 School, Glenn Hills Middle School, Hephzibah Middle School, Murphey Middle School, Pine Hill Middle School and John M. Tutt Middle School.

• In biology, student scores improved at ARC, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, A.R. Johnson Magnet School, T.W. Josey High School and the Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School.

• In U.S. history, gains were recorded at ARC, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Glenn Hills High, Hephzibah High, A.R. Johnson Magnet School and Lucy C. Laney High School. Georgia Milestones assessments are administered each spring to students in grades 3 through 8 and to high school students enrolled in select core subjects.

The assessments measure student learning in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies and are used to gauge readiness for the next grade level or course.