Georgia High School Graduation Test Gets Cut

The State Board of Education approved the State School Superintendent’s plan to nix the Georgia High School Graduation Test.

Students currently enrolled in high school will still have to take the GHSGT in order to graduate, but those entering high school in the fall don’t have to worry about it.

“I think phasing out the graduation test is the fairest way to assess student learning,” said Mary Persons High School Principal Jim Finch.

Doing away with the graduation test makes sense to Finch.

“Students are going to take a course and then at the end of that course they will take the assessment that goes along with that course rather than waiting until their junior year to be tested over items in which they learned maybe in the ninth grade.”

For current high school students, taking the graduation test during 11th grade determines whether you’ll receive a high school diploma. However, even the students who have already passed the test, say it’s tough.

Senior Ashleigh Hightower says, “It was really hard having to remember things from your ninth grade year because you haven’t seen it in two or three years and you’re asked to recall facts from World History which you haven’t even really studied in a really long time.”

The new plan means students will have to take tests immediately following the end of a course, but that “End of Course” test will count for 20% of their final grade, instead of just 15%.

Hightower says if she had the option between the EOCT’s and the graduation test, her answer would have been easy.

“I would have taken the EOCT, that way I wouldn’t have to have the graduation test hanging over my head all of junior year and worrying about it.”

Every student must continue to complete all course requirements as well as taking and passing the Georgia High School Writing Test.