Dooly County School System

Dooly County School System Celebrates Growth in GMAS Scores Across Multiple Grades and Subjects

The Dooly County School System is proud to announce significant academic gains on the 2025 Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS), reflecting the hard work and dedication of students, teachers, and school leaders across the district.

“We are proud of the growth we’re seeing in our students” said Holly Black, Chief Academic Officer. “These gains are a result of intentional efforts, targeted instruction, and a belief that our students can achieve at high levels. This is just the beginning!”

The district demonstrated notable growth in both the End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments for grades 3–8 and the high school End-of-Course (EOC) exams. The percentage of students scoring at the Developing level or above increased substantially in 78% of tested areas when comparing the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

These results emphasize the district's continued focus on academic achievement and its commitment to student success.

Reading on or Above Grade Level
Dooly County saw double-digit gains in the percentage of students reading on or above grade level in grades 5, 6, and 7—a clear sign that the district’s literacy plan is driving results. Science of Reading practices in K–5 are building strong foundations in early literacy, while GLISI Lit strategies in grades 6–8 are deepening comprehension and engagement. At the high school level, Educational Epiphany is strengthening literacy across all content areas. Together, these efforts are equipping students at every grade to read with confidence and skill.

ELA Performance
English Language Arts (ELA) achievement rose in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, with 5th and 6th grades posting impressive double-digit gains for those scoring in the developing or higher categories—reflecting the district’s targeted focus on reading, writing, and language development. Fifth grade ELA climbed from 40% to 59%, while sixth grade surged 16 points. Additional growth was seen across other grades, with 3rd grade improving from 36% to 45%, 4th grade rising from 36% to 43%, and 8th grade advancing from 60% to 65%.

Math Achievement
Improvements were also seen in math performance, with more students scoring at the Developing Learner level or above in grades 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, and Algebra: Concepts and Connections than last year. Double-digit gains were recorded in 5th grade math, 8th grade math, and high school Algebra.
Algebra posted the most dramatic growth, soaring from 16% to 45%—a 29-point gain. Eighth grade math jumped 22 points, fifth grade math climbed 15 points, and seventh grade math improved by 8 points, reflecting the district’s focused efforts to strengthen numeracy at every level.

Science and Social Studies
The district showed improvement in all science and social studies assessments, with particularly strong results in the upper grades. Double-digit gains were reported in 5th grade science, 8th grade science, 8th grade social studies.
These achievements reflect not only the academic progress of Dooly County students but also the strength of collaborative planning, instructional support, and professional learning across all grade levels.
Superintendent Dr. Sherrod Willaford highlighted the broader impact:
"These results reflect a community-wide effort. Our educators are working tirelessly, our students are rising to the challenge, and our families are supporting learning every step of the way. This progress tells a story of belief, perseverance, and momentum. Dooly County is moving forward—and we are building a brighter future for every child in our care.
We are especially grateful to our Board of Education for their dedicated support, exemplary leadership, and continued investment in academic excellence for all students in Dooly County."
With continued focus and collaboration, the district remains committed to building on this progress and ensuring that every student is prepared for lifelong success.