HCS Shows Multi-Year Growth on 2025-2026 Georgia Milestones Assessments

Aug 6 2026

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Henry County Schools students continued to show improvement on the 2025-2026 Georgia Milestones assessments, according to data the Georgia Department of Education released today.

Results were announced at the state, district and school levels for 13 different assessments. The percentage of HCS students who scored “proficient” or higher increased on 12 assessments. On 10 of the exams, that percentage increased for multiple years. HCS outpaced the statewide rate of growth on eight of the tests and matched statewide growth on two others.

English and reading results are delayed due to new standards that were implemented last school year.

Henry County Schools’ math and science gains are connected to recent investments in STEM education at all grade levels, including professional development, equipment, and curriculum resources. The district is on track to open the state-of-the-art Henry County STEM High School in August 2027.

In HCS, the percentage of students who scored “proficient” or higher on math assessments increased for all grade levels and courses. Fifth grade students realized five consecutive years of growth, and sixth grade math and algebra achieved three consecutive years of growth each. The greatest single-year increases were in third grade math (+4 percentage points) and seventh grade math (+4).

“We are proud of these gains, which result from continuous professional development for teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders,” said Termerion McCrary, Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and Accountability. “Through a curriculum-based partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, we developed a shared vision for high-quality mathematics instruction. We provided teachers with new planning resources, tools, and materials that strengthened implementation of the curriculum and small-group instruction.”

The percentage of students who scored “proficient” or higher on science assessments increased in three of four tested grade levels and courses. Notably, physical science scores increased by 25 points, biology scores increased by 5 points, and eighth grade science scores increased by 4 points. HCS students are now scoring above the state average in physical science.

Professional development throughout last school year contributed to HCS’ dramatic gains in science. A dedicated group of science teachers trained their peers in strategies and best practices, illustrating the importance of collaboration and its positive impact on student achievement.

The percentage of students who scored “proficient” or higher on social studies assessments also increased in all tested grade levels and courses. In United States history, the proficiency rate increased by 3 percentage points for three consecutive years of growth.

“Henry County Schools is moving beyond traditional memorization toward more engaging, comprehensive experiences in social studies,” Chief Learning and Performance Officer Dr. Cleveland Johnson III said. “Teachers are providing richer lessons that promote critical thinking. Students are learning to reason like historians, geographers, economists, political scientists, and behavioral scientists by analyzing evidence and different perspectives to draw conclusions. To support this shift, we developed new curriculum resources, redesigned tests, and partnered with the Georgia Department of Education for teacher training.”

“Our dedicated students, teachers, leaders, parents, and Board of Education all deserve recognition for districtwide academic performance improvements,” Superintendent Dr. John Pace III added. “These gains are one of several indicators that show embracing a continuous improvement mindset toward our strategies, initiatives, and priorities is yielding compelling results. In promising a high-quality, world-class education, we seek to provide students with access and opportunity for success, assuring our community that bright futures begin in Henry County Schools.”

Georgia Milestones Assessment System

The Georgia Department of Education released results for spring and full-year administrations of the GMAS for end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) exams. EOG scores report on student performance in grades 3-8, while EOC scores report on student performance in four different high school courses.

For each subject area tested, scores correspond to four levels of performance: beginning, developing, proficient, and distinguished. The state’s goal is for every student to score proficient or above in all subject areas.

District highlights summary

HCS saw increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient or above in elementary school math (+2); middle school science (+4), math (+3), algebra (+2), and social studies (+1); and high school physical science (+25), biology (+5), and U.S. history (+3).

All elementary schools improved or maintained performance in at least one of the reported assessments. Austin Road Elementary, Fairview Elementary, and Oakland Elementary increased the percentage of students scoring proficient and above in all reported assessments. Districtwide, the most significant gains in elementary school were achieved in third grade math (+4). Other one-year gains included 2-percentage-point increases in fourth grade math and fifth grade math.

All middle schools saw score increases in at least two of the reported assessments. Dutchtown Middle, Hampton Middle, and Locust Grove Middle increased the percentage of students scoring proficient and above in all reported assessments. Most notably, districtwide physical science improved by 25 percentage points to put Henry County Schools above the state average. Additionally, eighth grade science increased by 4 percentage points, seventh grade math by 4 percentage points, sixth and eighth grade math by 3 percentage points each, and eighth grade social studies by 1 percentage point.

Eleven of 12 HCS high schools saw increased scores in at least one tested subject. EXCEL Academy High, Hampton High, Locust Grove High, Luella High, McDonough High, and Ola High increased the percentage of students scoring proficient and above in all reported subjects. Districtwide, biology increased by 5 percentage points, U.S. history by 3 percentage points, and algebra by 2 percentage points.

School-level highlights summary

The following schools exceeded state average percentages of students who scored “proficient” or above:

Austin Road Elementary: fifth grade science (53%)
Austin Road Middle: physical science (80%), algebra (97%)
Dutchtown Elementary: third grade math (56%)
Dutchtown High: U.S. history (40%)
Dutchtown Middle: physical science (80%), algebra (88%)
East Lake Elementary: third grade math (64%), fourth grade math (71%), fifth grade math (54%), fifth grade science (47%)
Eagle’s Landing Middle: algebra (58%)
Hampton High: U.S. history (50%)
Hampton Middle: physical science (75%), algebra (81%)
Impact Academy Middle: sixth grade math (48%), physical science (70%), algebra (68%)
Locust Grove Middle: physical science (69%), algebra (91%)
McDonough Middle: physical science (73%), algebra (69%)
New Hope Elementary: fourth grade math (56%)
Rocky Creek Elementary: third grade math (56%)
Timber Ridge Elementary: fifth grade math (51%), fifth grade science (51%)
Ola High: algebra (61%), biology (59%), U.S. history (46%)
Ola Middle: sixth grade math (47%), eighth grade math (48%), eighth grade science (38%), physical science (80%), algebra (87%)
Stockbridge Middle: algebra (61%)
Union Grove High: biology (53%), U.S. history (50%)
Union Grove Middle: sixth grade math (49%), seventh grade math (48%), eighth grade math (58%), eighth grade science (41%), physical science (75%), algebra (93%)
Woodland Middle: physical science (76%), algebra (80%)

Highlights of growth in percentages of students who scored “proficient” or above:

Austin Road Elementary increased in all reported assessments: a 5-percentage-point increase in third grade math, an 18-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, a 3-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math, and a 12-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Austin Road Middle had a 1-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, a 7-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 6-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, a 3-percentage-point increase in physical science, and a 1-percentage-point increase in eighth grade social studies.
Bethlehem Elementary had a 10-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math.
Birch Creek Elementary had a 4-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 3-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math, and a 1-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Cotton Indian Elementary had a 7-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math and a 4-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Dutchtown Elementary had an 11-percentage-point increase in third grade math and a 6-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math.
Dutchtown High had a 1-percentage-point increase in biology.
Dutchtown Middle increased in all reported assessments: a 3-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 5-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 7-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, an 18-percentage-point increase in algebra, an 11-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, a 22-percentage-point increase in physical science, and a 17-percentage-point increase in eighth grade social studies.
East Lake Elementary had a 4-percentage-point increase in third grade math and a 1-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math.
Eagle’s Landing High had a 2-percentage-point increase in algebra and a 7-percentage-point increase in biology.
Eagle’s Landing Middle had a 4-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math and a 5-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math.
EXCEL Academy High increased in all reported subjects: a 6-percentage-point increase in algebra, an 8-percentage-point increase in biology, and a 13-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
EXCEL Academy Middle had a 7-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math and a 5-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math.
Fairview Elementary increased in all reported assessments: an 11-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 2-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, a 6-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math, and a 2-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Flippen Elementary had an 11-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math.
Hampton Elementary had a 3-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math.
Hampton High increased in all reported subjects: a 13-percentage-point increase in algebra, an 11-percentage-point increase in biology, and a 10-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
Hampton Middle increased in all reported assessments: a 2-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 3-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 10-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, a 42-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 7-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, a 33-percentage-point increase in physical science, and a 12-percentage-point increase in eighth grade social studies.
Hickory Flat Elementary had a 10-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math and a 2-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Impact Academy High had a 12-percentage-point increase in algebra and a 5-percentage-point increase in biology.
Impact Academy Middle had a 20-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math and a 13-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math.
Locust Grove Elementary had an 11-percentage-point increase in third grade math.
Locust Grove High increased in all reported subjects: a 2-percentage-point increase in algebra, an 8-percentage-point increase in biology, and a 12-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
Locust Grove Middle increased in all reported assessments: a 6-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, an 8-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 6-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, an 18-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 7-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, a 61-percentage-point increase in physical science, and a 1-percentage-point increase in eighth grade social studies.
Luella Elementary had a 4-percentage-point increase in third grade math, an 18-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, and a 2-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math.
Luella High increased in all reported subjects: a 7-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 15-percentage-point increase in biology, and an 8-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
Luella Middle had a 10-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 4-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 5-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, and a 4-percentage-point increase in physical science.
McDonough High increased in all reported subjects: a 2-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 5-percentage-point increase in biology, and a 5-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
McDonough Middle had a 4-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 6-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 21-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 40-percentage-point increase in physical science, and a 2-percentage-point increase in eighth grade social studies.
Mt. Carmel Elementary had a 15-percentage-point increase in third grade math.
New Hope Elementary had a 2-percentage-point increase in third grade math and a 4-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math.
Oakland Elementary increased in all reported assessments: a 13-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 13-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, a 3-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math, and a 1-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Ola Elementary had a 6-percentage-point increase in third grade math.
Ola High increased in all reported areas: a 3-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 4-percentage-point increase in biology, and a 2-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
Ola Middle had a 1-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 2-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 1-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, a 2-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, and an 8-percentage-point increase in physical science.
Pate’s Creek Elementary had a 2-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 13-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math, and a 2-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Pleasant Grove Elementary had a 15-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math and a 14-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Red Oak Elementary had a 4-percentage-point increase in third grade math, an 11-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, and a 5-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math.
Rock Spring Elementary had a 4-percentage-point increase in third grade math.
Rocky Creek Elementary had an 11-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 2-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, and a 9-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math.
Smith-Barnes Elementary had a 15-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math.
Stockbridge Elementary had a 15-percentage-point increase in third grade math.
Stockbridge High had a 9-percentage-point increase in U.S. history.
Stockbridge Middle had a 6-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 7-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 5-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 3-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, and an 8-percentage-point increase in physical science.
Tussahaw Elementary had a 3-percentage-point increase in third grade math and a 5-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math.
Unity Grove Elementary had a 7-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math and a 4-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Union Grove Middle had a 5-percentage-point increase in sixth grade math, a 1-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, a 4-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 10-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, and a 16-percentage-point increase in physical science.
Walnut Creek Elementary had an 8-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 14-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math, and a 4-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Wesley Lakes Elementary had a 12-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math and a 7-percentage-point increase in fifth grade math.
Woodland Elementary had an 11-percentage-point increase in third grade math, a 16-percentage-point increase in fourth grade math, and a 5-percentage-point increase in fifth grade science.
Woodland High had a 7-percentage-point increase in biology.
Woodland Middle had a 9-percentage-point increase in seventh grade math, a 2-percentage-point increase in eighth grade math, a 25-percentage-point increase in algebra, a 10-percentage-point increase in eighth grade science, a 26-percentage-point increase in physical science, and a 6-percentage-point increase in eighth grade social studies.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our 18-point gain in fourth grade mathematics, a reflection of our students’ growth and achievement,” Austin Road Elementary School Principal Lois Barney said. “This success is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our teachers, who strengthened students’ conceptual understanding through high-impact instructional practices such as classroom discussions, hands-on manipulatives, and collaborative planning. These scores are a testament to the power of teamwork and the belief that hard work and perseverance truly pay off.”

“We are so excited about this year’s results, which reflect the intentional, collaborative work of our teachers, administrators, and students,” Hampton Middle School Principal Dr. Lydia Williams said. “We remained relentlessly focused on analyzing data, planning with purpose, and responding to the individual needs of our learners. Our staff and students demonstrated dedication, high expectations, and an unwavering commitment throughout the year, which contributed to the gains we saw, including the 42-point increase in algebra.”

"Growth like this in biology doesn’t happen by chance – it happens because our staff refuses to settle for average,” Luella High School Principal Brandi N. Hardnett said. “Every gain represents intentional instruction, relentless collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring every student succeeds. We couldn’t be prouder of what our students and educators accomplished together.”

“Our students’ academic growth reflects the support of their families, teachers, district and school staff, and our community,” added Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “I am proud of our students for their hard work and grateful to the adults who inspire them every day to realize their potential.”

View a full summary of results by state, system, and school from the Georgia Department of Education.