Rockdale County Public School students performed above the state average in all areas of the Criterion Referenced Competency Test, according to school district results from 2013-2014 released by the Georgia Department of Education today. The CRCT is given to students in grades 3-8 in five subject areas which totals 30 content area tests for each district.

In the 30 content area tests, RCPS students outperformed the state in all 30 areas. In addition, RCPS students increased performance over 2012-13 results in 13 areas of performance in the core subjects of reading, language arts, math, science and social studies with over one third scoring at 90 percent or above for meeting and exceeding.

"In the context of a 19 percent budget deficit, increased class sizes, reduced instructional days, and a reduction in staff, these results are simply remarkable," said Superintendent Richard Autry. "Our teachers and staff in the classrooms deserve the highest level of credit and praise for refusing to let economic conditions lower expectations and student achievement. I certainly want to thank all of our hard working educators who continue to commit to our 'All Means All' philosophy of ensuring that every one of our 16,000 students is successful. It certainly takes great teachers working with great parents in a great community to achieve these results."

The CRCTs are administered to grades 3-8 in subject areas including reading, English/language arts, math, science and social studies. However this was the last year of CRCT.

Next year, the state moves on to a new standardized form of testing, the Georgia Milestone Assessments, applied from elementary to high school. The Milestone Assessments, which were announced June 4, would eliminate the Ga. Writing Assessments for grades 3, 5, 8 and bring more open-ended questions to the tests.

For more information about the CRCT and/or Milestones tests please visit the Georgia Department of Education web site at www.gadoe.org