Most of the preliminary scores and comparisons on Effingham County’s performance in statewide writing, graduation and the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test show the system improving from the previous year and outscoring the state and most other systems in the First District Regional Educational Service Agency.

Some of the tests were taken for the last time, including the fifth and third grade writing assessments and the CRCT in first and second grades. In the final fifth grade writing assessment, unofficial data shows Effingham holding a strong number two spot against the other 18 systems in the FDRESA, with only Bryan County above them.

In elementary CRCT scores, most schools and subjects saw an improvement from the previous year and scored 90 percent or higher. South Effingham Elementary showed significantly strong scores for all grades and subjects, including 100 percent of its fifth graders meeting or exceeding standards in reading and only fourth grade social studies scoring below 90 percent.

Middle school CRCT scores were mostly promising. Low social studies performances were attributable to the subject’s first appearance since discrepancies threw out the test in 2008. However, Effingham County Middle scores were noticeably weaker than at Ebenezer and South.

On the Georgia High School Graduation Test, 11th graders taking the test for the first time scored higher than the state in all subjects except science, where both were 90 percent. Social studies, usually a weak area for the system, dropped considerably from the previous year for Effingham and the state, with Effingham at 81 percent (down 7 percent from 2009) and the state at 73 percent (a 14 percent loss).