Amid announcements of and preparations for a new testing system for public schools throughout the state, signs of both growth and decline were represented in the final year of Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) in Newton County schools. The Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) released the 2014 CRCT scores June 25, showing the Newton County School System (NCSS) matched or surpassed the state average in seven of 30 performance areas and having improved in 16 areas from 2013. Scores were calculated as a percentage of students in each of grades three through eight who met or