Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6A - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. MAY 28, 2008
Local Schools Above Average In Grad Test Results
By Jana A. Mitcham
Local high school graduation
test scores from 2008 have been
released, with results showing
that Jackson County, Jefferson
and Commerce school systems
are above the state average in
percentage of students passing.
The data relates only to first
time test takers.
For the first time this year,
the English/language arts and
science tests were fully aligned
to the state’s new curricu
lum, according to the Georgia
Department of Education. The
new exams “call for higher
order thinking" and test “more
rigorous material." Area schools
saw a drop in English/language
arts scores this year, but saw
improvements in science.
The four content areas of the
graduation test — English/lan
guage arts, math, social studies
and science — are given for the
first time to juniors in the spring
(see chart for all scores for area
schools). Students may return
and take the test again until they
can qualify for a high school
diploma.
COMMERCE
Commerce High School saw
a slight drop in English/lan-
guage arts scores this year, but
also saw a big leap in science
scores.
CHS shows 96 percent passing
in English/language arts, down
from the 2007 score of 98.7.
In science, CHS had 93 per
cent passing, up from last year’s
75.6.
JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson County first-time
test takers in their junior year
exceeded the state average in all
areas but English/language arts.
With 88 percent of the students
passing, the local score was two
points behind the state’s 90 per
cent. The Jackson County score
for English/language arts was
93.1 in 2007.
In all other areas, Jackson
County students showed an
improvement, particularly in sci
ence, an area of concern state
wide in 2007. In 2007, Jackson
County had 72.4 percent of the
test-takers passing in science;
the 2008 score showed 87 per
cent passing, above the state’s
86 percent.
JEFFERSON
The 2008 scores for Jefferson
High School first-time test tak
ers also dropped in English/
language arts, although with 92
percent passing, the JHS score
is still above the state’s 90
percent. In 2007, 97.7 percent
passed English/language arts.
JHS also saw improvement in
the area of science, with 89
percent passing, up from 83.3
percent last year.
Graduation Test Results, Class of 2009
Percent Passing High School Graduation Test
All First-Time 11th Grade Test Takers
(Source: Georgia Department of Education, testing website)
2007
2008
English/Language Arts
JHS
97.7
92
jackson
93.1
88
CHS
98.7
96
Banks
90.1
87
Madison
96.2
86
State
96.2
90
Math
JHS
97.7
94
jackson
91.8
94
CHS
94.9
93
Banks
88.8
96
Madison
89.1
94
State
91.7
92
Social Studies
JHS
93.9
88
jackson
88.3
88
CHS
92.2
94
Banks
83.7
89
Madison
82.9
85
State
87.1
86
Science
JHS
83.3
89
jackson
72.4
87
CHS
75.6
93
Banks
68
86
Madison
68.2
85
State
73.6
86
Lindsay's Legacy Says Thanks To Its Mentors
Lindsay’s Legacy mentoring
program had some 130 people in
attendance at the Jefferson Civic
Center for a recent “thank you"
lunch for its mentors.
Ten students from participating
schools spoke about their men
tors and what the mentoring rela
tionship has meant to them. The
theme of the event was “IMPACT,"
with the hopes that mentors would
understand the influence, impres
sion and positive effect that they
are having on their students.
A movie clip called “A Single
Crack" from “Ice Age" was
shown.
“Remember the scene where the
little animal tries to bury his one
acorn in the ice?" director Lisa
Stephens asked. ‘The force of that
little impact had big effects, creat
ing an avalanche and a really fun
scene in this popular kids movie.
“I believe the mentors were
encouraged by the stories and
thank you notes read from partici
pating students," Stephens added.
“Those weekly visits to the school
meant a lot to the students."
John Lindsay, son of the late
Rev. Jack Lindsay for whom the
program is named, spoke about
his upcoming Gobi Desert run to
raise funds for the mentoring pro
gram. His goal has been to raise
$10,000; thus far, he has pledges
for $5,000, and raised $1,200 with
a yard sale. He will leave June 2
for the 150-mile run in China.
Amanda Stephens of Jackson
County Comprehensive High
School gave a multi-media presen
tation highlighting the year with
mentors and mentees.
Representatives from the boards
of education of the county’s three
school systems were in atten
dance.
“Lindsay’s Legacy mentoring
program would like to say a spe
cial thank you to a very generous
and supportive community mem
ber who financially sponsored this
entire event for our mentors and
schools to enjoy," Stephens said.
“We cannot thank you enough for
your support and strong advocacy
for education and mentoring."
Stephens also offered thanks
for all who made the event a
success: “Thanks to all of our
community volunteers, mentors,
school counselors and graduation
coaches, principals and boards
of education, the Chamber of
Commerce Education Committee,
and Jackson County Family
Connection for your roles in par
ticipating with this program to
benefit our students," she said.
Rain Shortens Concert
Nothing helps break a drought like a free cut short due to the rain. The band will come
outdoor concert. The Commerce Downtown back during the City Lights Festival, reports
Development Authority’s Fridays After Five Hasco Craver, DDA executive director,
concert last week featuring Curley Maple was
8 ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS 8
Leslie M. Pitts, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry
706-335-7793 I
215 Mercer Place,
P. O. Box 1241
Commerce, GA 30529
Website: drlpitts.com
Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com
News Photos Can Be
Purchased At Online Site
MainStreet Newspapers Inc.
offers staff-produced pho
tos from its five newspapers
available for the ordering of
prints online at its website,
mainstreetnews.com. Based in
Jefferson, the company owns
The Commerce News, The Jackson
Herald, The Madison County
Journal, The Braselton News and
The Banks County News.
Access to the photos cata
logue is available from a but
ton on the mainstreetnews.com
website. The photos are hosted
by DotPhoto Inc., a firm which
specializes in making prints
from digital photographs and
which manages photos for a
number of newspapers across
the country.
There will be approximately a
one-week lag time between the
time photos are published and
their availability at the online
site.
Those who don’t have Internet
access in their homes may visit
area public libraries that offer
the service.
Call 1-800-462-3691 or visit
jacksonemc.com/rightchoice.
Right Choice
spokesman and
HGTVstar
Pat Simpson
Energy Efficient. Guaranteed.
Using state-of-the-art energy
audit tools, we can help you
determine how to reduce energy
costs, increase the comfort of
your home and improve the
air quality.
Too Hot? Too Cold?
High Energy Bills?
Call now for a Right Choice
Home Performance
With ENERGY STAR" Audit
Mm
Vs
m: Choice
Rj
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov