Science

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment pro​gram spanning grades 3 through high school.  Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  Students in grades 5 and 8 will take an end-of-grade assessment in science, while high school students will take an end-of-course assessment for each of the two courses (Biology and Physical Science) designated by the State Board of Education.

Features of the Science Georgia Milestone Assessment System include:

• selected response (multiple choice) norm-referenced items, to complement the criterion-referenced information and to provide a national comparison; and
• transition to online administration over time, with online administration considered the primary mode of administration and paper-penc​il as back-up until the transition is complete.

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information abou​t their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or endeavor (college or career).  Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system.  Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia.  As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state’s accountability syste​m – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).