-Athens, GA

Clarke and Oconee County high school students are taking the graduation test this week but these tests will soon be ancient history.

Clarke County School District says most of their students are not taking the graduation test. Instead, the county is focusing more on their students taking the End-of-Course-Test or EOCT. This means that instead of taking one test at end of four years in high school, students would be tested on courses that they have completed.

The Georgia Department of Education says they began the process of phasing out the Graduation Test in 2011. This means that students who entered high school before changes to the test can either take the graduation test or take the End-Of-Course-Test. The Department of Education also says that if one of those students  dropped out of high school and wants to return back to school then the Department would have to offer them the graduation test since they were in school prior to the changes to the test.

After next year’s graduation class, students will no longer have to take Graduation tests.

By: Ian Saunders