Georgia · 2026 score reports
Georgia Milestones
Scores Explained:
The New ELA Scale
Last reviewed against Georgia Department of Education sources
Quick answer
What is a good Georgia Milestones score?
Proficient Learner or higher. In math, Proficient starts at 525 in grades 3-8. On the new 2026 ELA test, Proficient starts at 675 in grades 3-8 (scale 300-999). Distinguished Learner starts at a different score for each grade, for example 750 in grade 3 ELA and 575 in grade 3 math.
Source: GaDOE: Interpretive Guide for Score Reports, EOG Spring 2026, Table 2 (PDF) · Updated
Next step
Practice for the Georgia Milestones, grades 3 to 8
Practice tests built to the Georgia Milestones, with every answer explained. Pick a grade to see what is on it, or start practicing with an account.
Try Georgia Milestones practice questions
Practice Georgia Milestones Questions
Pick your child's grade to start. No signup required.
What does my child's score mean?
Type the scale score from your child's Georgia Milestones report. For Grade 3 ELA, Proficient Learner starts at 675.
Source: GaDOE: Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Scale Score Ranges by Achievement Level (Table 2)
Georgia Milestones score ranges by grade
Scale score ranges for each achievement level, end-of-grade tests, 2025-26. The highlighted column is Proficient Learner. Scores are not comparable across subjects or grades: a 525 in grade 4 math is not the same as a 525 in grade 8 math.
| Grade | Level 1 Beginning | Level 2 Developing | Level 3 Proficient | Level 4 Distinguished |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 300–624 | 625–674 | 675–749 | 750–999 |
| Grade 4 | 300–624 | 625–674 | 675–747 | 748–999 |
| Grade 5 | 300–624 | 625–674 | 675–728 | 729–999 |
| Grade 6 | 300–624 | 625–674 | 675–719 | 720–999 |
| Grade 7 | 300–624 | 625–674 | 675–722 | 723–999 |
| Grade 8 | 300–624 | 625–674 | 675–720 | 721–999 |
| Grade | Level 1 Beginning | Level 2 Developing | Level 3 Proficient | Level 4 Distinguished |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 290–474 | 475–524 | 525–574 | 575–705 |
| Grade 4 | 270–474 | 475–524 | 525–576 | 577–715 |
| Grade 5 | 265–474 | 475–524 | 525–577 | 578–725 |
| Grade 6 | 285–474 | 475–524 | 525–577 | 578–700 |
| Grade 7 | 265–474 | 475–524 | 525–589 | 590–740 |
| Grade 8 | 275–474 | 475–524 | 525–570 | 571–755 |
| Grade | Level 1 Beginning | Level 2 Developing | Level 3 Proficient | Level 4 Distinguished |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 | 160–474 | 475–524 | 525–594 | 595–780 |
| Grade 8 | 165–474 | 475–524 | 525–592 | 593–785 |
Grade 8 social studies runs 240 to 715, with Proficient at 525 and Distinguished at 572. Grade 8 students in high school Physical Science take that test instead of grade 8 science.
Source: GaDOE: Interpretive Guide for Score Reports, Table 2 (updated October 7, 2026).
The four achievement levels
Level 4: Distinguished Learner
Advanced proficiency. GaDOE: well prepared for the next grade and well prepared for post-secondary readiness.
Level 3: Proficient Learner
Proficient. GaDOE: prepared for the next grade and on track for post-secondary readiness. This is the bar to aim for.
Level 2: Developing Learner
Partial proficiency. GaDOE: needs additional academic support to succeed in the next grade.
Level 1: Beginning Learner
Not yet proficient. GaDOE: needs substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade.
Each domain (reporting category) on the report is rated Met Target, Approaching Target or Below Target: whether your child performed like a proficient learner on those questions. The report also shows a national percentile range and, in grades 4-8, a Student Growth Percentile.
Source: GaDOE: Understanding the Georgia Milestones Achievement Levels
The new ELA test and its scores
ELA through 2025
Earlier ELA tests were built on the previous standards and their own scale. Those scores cannot be lined up with 2026 scores.
ELA from 2026
The first test on Georgia's K-12 ELA Standards. Developing starts at 625 and Proficient at 675 in every grade; the State Board approved the cut scores in September 2026. Student scores are released in November 2026.
Math changed earlier: new math standards came in 2023-24 and the Distinguished Learner cut scores were reset in July 2024, so GaDOE asks for caution when comparing math Proficient and Distinguished percentages across years.
Reading status, Lexile and promotion
In grades 3, 5 and 8, the ELA report shows a reading status: Grade Level or Above, or Below Grade Level. A Lexile at or above the low end of the grade's range counts as Grade Level or Above.
| Grade | Range |
|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 520L to 820L |
| Grade 4 | 740L to 940L |
| Grade 5 | 830L to 1010L |
| Grade 6 | 925L to 1070L |
| Grade 7 | 970L to 1120L |
| Grade 8 | 1010L to 1185L |
Georgia's promotion law asks for grade-level reading in grades 3, 5 and 8, and Developing Learner or higher in math in grades 5 and 8. Students who fall short get remediation and a summer retest. Districts with flexibility waivers may set their own promotion policies. For 2025-26 only, the State Board waived the ELA promotion rule and the ELA retest was canceled while the new cut scores were set.
Source: GaDOE: Interpretive Guide for Score Reports (Promotion and Retention; Table 5)
Getting ready for spring 2027
Grades 3-8 take the end-of-grade tests between early April and May; your district picks the dates. Start with the domains your child's report marked Below Target. Our Georgia Milestones practice pages by grade:
Source: GaDOE: Georgia Milestones Questions and Answers for Parents
More on the test itself: Georgia Milestones prep for grades 3-8.
Questions parents ask
What is a passing score on the Georgia Milestones?
Proficient Learner (Level 3) is the bar GaDOE describes as prepared for the next grade. In math, Proficient starts at 525 in every grade 3-8. On the new 2026 ELA test it starts at 675 in every grade. Distinguished Learner starts at a different score for each grade. For promotion, the rule is lower: a reading status of Grade Level or Above in grades 3, 5 and 8, and Developing Learner or higher in math in grades 5 and 8.
Why is my child's ELA score so different from last year?
Spring 2026 was the first Georgia Milestones ELA test on Georgia's new K-12 ELA Standards, and it has a new scale (300 to 999). The State Board of Education approved the new cut scores in September 2026. GaDOE says 2025-26 ELA scale scores and levels cannot be compared with earlier years. Compare levels, not numbers.
When will 2026 Georgia Milestones ELA scores come out?
GaDOE says ELA student scores are released in November 2026, after the standard setting needed for the new test. Math, science and social studies results came out earlier.
What does "reading status" mean on the report?
In grades 3, 5 and 8 the ELA report shows a reading status of Below Grade Level or Grade Level or Above. It comes from the Interpreting Texts items and the Lexile measure: a Lexile at or above the low end of the grade's college and career range counts as Grade Level or Above. It is used for Georgia's promotion rule.
Can my child be held back because of the Georgia Milestones?
Georgia law asks students in grades 3, 5 and 8 to reach grade level in reading, and in grades 5 and 8 to reach Developing Learner or higher in math. Students who don't get remediation and a summer retest. Districts with flexibility waivers can set their own promotion policies. For 2025-26 only, the State Board waived the ELA promotion rule and the ELA retest was canceled while the new ELA cut scores were set.
What do Below Target, Approaching Target and Met Target mean?
They rate each domain (reporting category). Met Target means your child performed like a proficient learner on that domain: a 75% or greater chance of being proficient overall. Approaching Target is 25 to 74%, Below Target is under 25%. They are the quickest way to see what to work on.
What is the scale score range on the report?
It is how much your child's score could move if they took the test again: the score plus or minus one standard error. A 543 might show a range of 526 to 560.
What is a Student Growth Percentile?
It compares your child's growth with students across Georgia who had similar scores the year before, on a 1 to 99 scale. GaDOE calls 1 to 34 low growth, 35 to 65 typical and 66 to 99 high. Growth percentiles are reported for grades 4-8 in ELA and math; ELA growth targets are not given for 2025-26 because the scale is new.
My child is below Proficient. What should we do next?
Start with the domains marked Below Target on the report. Then work on the exact skills inside them. A full practice test built like the Georgia Milestones, such as iMasterly's, scores your child in each area and explains every question, so you can practice before spring. Your child's teacher can tell you what support the school offers.
Sources
Every number on this page comes from these Georgia Department of Education documents. Last reviewed .
- GaDOE — Georgia Milestones Interpretive Guide for Score Reports, EOG Spring and Retest 2026 (updated October 7, 2026, PDF)
- GaDOE — Understanding the Georgia Milestones Achievement Levels (PDF)
- GaDOE — Georgia Milestones Questions and Answers for Parents, 2026-27 (PDF)
- GaDOE Insights — Georgia Milestones dashboard