News 12 at 11 o'clock, July 22, 2008

COLUMBIA CTY, Ga.---The CRCT test is crucial for students in third, fifth, and eighth grades. Students have to pass portions of the spring exam to move up to the next grade. This year almost 800 Columbia County students needed a second chance to pass it...and many of them took that second chance to heart.

Nearly 350 Columbia County students still don't know whether they'll make it to the next grade level. Based on their re-test scores, they did not make the grade. That's 350, out of 5,000 students tested back in the Spring.

"Overall, I felt that our CRCT scores were really good," says Superintendent Charles Nagle.

This year state-wide, fifth and eighth grade math was the biggest hurdle. In eighth grade math, the state saw only a 60 percent success rate. Columbia County saw a 73 percent success rate, and after the re-takes that number jumped to 87 percent.

Superintendent Nagle applauds parents, and his summer school staff for their hard work. "You have to be very pleased that they worked so hard and that the parents put forth the effort to get the children to the school to give us a chance to do some remediation," says Nagle.

There is an appeal process set into place for the children who did not pass the second exam. The parent, previous teacher, and school principal all have to agree that the student should move forward.

If they do move on, school officials say the student will be monitored closely. "It's very important from this point forward that we watch these students and that we give them the support they need," says Board Chairperson Regina Buccafusco.

Out of the 467 students who failed the original eighth grade math portion, the school board set a bench mark. They hoped 150 students would pass the re-test. They exceeded their expectations and 246 students will now be moving on to the ninth grade.

The CRCT scores weren't the only important item on the agenda. The school board also set the new millage rate. Starting January of 2009, the rate will be set at 17.09 The new rate will be spread to all property owners in Columbia County.

CRCT Re-Test Scores

Third Grade (Reading Only)
-79 Failed in Spring
-63 Retested
-24 Passed

Fifth Grade-Reading
-90 Failed in Spring
-81 Retested
-50 Passed

Fifth Grade-Math
-286 Failed in Spring
-262 Retested
-146 Passed

Eighth Grade-Reading
-82 Failed in Spring
-72 Retested
-33 Passed

Eighth Grade-Math
-467 Failed in Spring
-439 Retested
-246 Passed