In reports released last week by the Georgia Department of Education, Dawson County Schools had a slight dip on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).
The index is a state-wide accountability system for Georgia schools that replaced No Child Left Behind in 2012.
"It measures school districts and its schools using a 100 point scale in the areas of achievement, progress, achievement gap and challenge points for subgroup performance," said Nicole LeCave, director of teaching and learning for Dawson County Schools.
"DCSS has increased its CCRPI score from 78.4 in 2012 to 81.2 in 2016. The overall district score of 81.2 in 2016 is down slightly from the 2015 score of 82.8. However, the state's overall score decreased by almost two points, with the most significant year-to-year decrease seen in the state's elementary overall score," she said.
The scores are based on a large number of indicators ranging from things like results on Georgia Milestones testing to the percentage of students who have earned a high school credit before the end of eighth grade.
That particular indicator has only been applicable in Dawson County since the realignment of schools which began in 2016. In fact, it was one of the more significant reasons for initiating the school realignment.
"We are able to earn exceeding the bar points for this indicator," LeCave said. "Since we implemented Phase 1 of the realignment this year, we will see the results in the 2017 CCRPI score."
LeCave also noted that the indicators change.
"The indicators being measured on CCRPI have changed each year since its implementation. So, the district and its schools will remain diligent in focusing on the indicators of performance. From the 2016 data, the areas in which we fill focus are progress and subgroup performance," LeCave said.
The state averages on the index are 71.7 at the elementary level, 71.5 at the middle school level and 75.7 for high schools.
Dawson County High School had an 83.3, a number that is 7.6 points higher than the state average. It is, however, down two tenths of a point from last year's 83.5.
Dawson County Middle School scored 4.8 points better than the state average at 76.3, but was down from 78.9 last year.
At the elementary level, all of Dawson County schools exceeded the state average of 71.7.
Both Robinson and Kilough elementary schools had drops on their scores. Robinson went from 85.5 to 73.9 and Kilough from 79.1 to 75.3.
Black's Mill Elementary and Riverview Elementary both went up. Black's Mill had a 76.8 in 2015 and this year posted an 83.
Riverview went from an 88.5 to the county's highest score of 91.7.
"The CCRPI results can inform the district of where to focus for school improvement. However, the score simply cannot measure all of the great things happening in our schools," LeCave said. "Currently, the state is developing a plan for Every Student Succeeds Act. As part of the development, the state is evaluating what changes need to be made to the current accountability system (CCRPI) so that it is a more comprehensive measurement of achievement in schools."