The Oglethorpe County Board of Education received the newly released Milestones scores for students in grades 3-8, noting general improvements and placements above the state level.
Seventh-grade math scores saw a 7% improvement this year in comparison to the state level, and scores improved by roughly 5% from FY24 to FY25.
“Seventh-grade (math) was definitely a grade level we were focused on and we’re trying to improve,” assistant superintendent Kanya Cornish said.
BOE Chair Becky Soto said the school system had added two new teachers and Superintendent Beverley Levine said there was also a change in curriculum.
Generally, math scores improved across grade levels, with 95% of third-grade students scoring as developing, proficient or distinguished learners during the 2024 fiscal year.
“Remember our third-graders last year,” Cornish said. “They were rocking and rolling. (Their math scores) did drop slightly this year, but they were still pretty good.”
Fifth-grade students also saw improvements in their math scores, placing 15% higher than the state average for FY25. Cornish noted that the average sixth-grade math scores were 13% higher than the state level.
District 3 board member Susan Robinson also noticed a “big jump” from beginning to developing learners in sixth-grade math in comparison from the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
In addition, the BOE was introduced to AI-based reading and dyslexia screening program Amira Learning at its monthly meeting Tuesday night.
“In talking to third grade, teachers like (Amira) so much better than the reading screener we had last year because their students are able to log on quicker,” Cornish said. “They’re able to finish (the testing) in a very timely manner.”
The program tests students in areas like phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, and is “completely funded by the state,” taking roughly an hour to complete, in comparison to the previous program, MAP Reading Fluency.
The school system used the program to test 329 second- and third-grade students this year, and 347 students in kindergarten and first grade will be tested starting Aug. 13.
Math Nation, a new interactive and supplemental math program for grades 6-8, was also introduced to the board.
Levine approved the following agenda items:
- Minutes of previous meetings.
- Services for homeschool students with disabilities for the 2025-26 school year.
- Jimmy Stokes as the disciplinary hearing officer.
- The five-year strategic plan.
- The Aug. 12 personnel report.
- A request to fund out-of-state field trips for middle and high school chapters of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and the Board Policy GARH (Employee Leave and Absences).
Agriculture teacher Jordan Paul will also attend an Education First training in Munich, Germany, in preparation for a trip to Italy, and Levine will attend workshops in Ohio, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.
Overall enrollment is down slightly from this time last year. There are 2,280 students in grades PK4-12 on Monday, compared to 2,308 on Aug. 10, 2024.
The Cancer Pathways Teen Tobacco and Vaping program and the placement of an ESPLOST ad in The Oglethorpe Echo were also discussed.
Here is a calendar of upcoming events:
- A BOE work session is Aug. 26.
- The next BOE meeting is Sept. 2.
- The homecoming parade is Sept. 4.
- BOE training is set for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 15 at OCHS.