Cedartown High School faculty, staff and students will start their winter break on a high note after learning that they earned a 94-percent pass rate on the fall Georgia High School Writing Test.

The test, given to all juniors by the Georgia Department of Education, was administered in October.

Cedartown’s score this year represents a three-percent increase from last year and a 15-percent increase from five years ago.

CHS junior Lenora Cooper received a perfect score on her writing test.

“This is a testament to the hard work of the CHS students, faculty, and staff who worked together in a school-wide writing initiative,"

said CHS Principal Hal David. “During the first three weeks of school, subject-related writing activities were scheduled in each class at least once a week.”

Teachers evaluated the work and posted useful commentary on examples of work for students to use as a model in each classroom, David explained.

Weekly supplemental activities were provided to the teachers. These activities included corrections on “internet speak”, examples of good work, how to determine if a paper is on topic and common errors made in writing.

The initiative was culminated with a practice test that was graded by members of the English department and then distributed back to the students.

Students in need of extra help were given a faculty buddy to work with prior to the test date. “Our students continue to improve on the Georgia High School Graduation test,” David said.

“At CHS our students, faculty, and staff are focused on academic achievement.”