Assessments

ACCESS for ELLs is administered annually to all English learners in Georgia. ACCESS for ELLs is a standards-based, criterion referenced English language proficiency test designed to measure English learners’ social and academic proficiency in English. It assesses social and instructional English as well as the language associated with language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies within the school context across the four language domains. ACCESS for ELLs meets the federal mandate requiring states to evaluate EL students in grades K through 12 on their progress in learning to speak English.

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is a recently developed, individually administered test. It is intended only for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities that are severe enough to prevent meaningful participation in the ACCESS for ELLs assessment. Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is not intended for ELs who can be served with special education accommodations on ACCESS for ELLs. Decisions regarding a student's participation must be made by an IEP team.

The primary purpose of GKIDS is to provide ongoing diagnostic information about kindergarten students’ developing skills in English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Personal/Social Development, and Approaches to Learning. GKIDS will also provide a summary of student performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics at the end of the kindergarten school year.

The GKIDS Readiness Check is given during the first six weeks of kindergarten. The primary purpose of the GKIDS Readiness Check is to highlight knowledge and skills critical for student success in learning – solely to guide individualized instruction.

GKIDS 2.0 provides teachers with a source of real-time information to adjust instruction, by identifying what a student already knows, what the student needs next, and by allowing the teacher to monitor growth. GKIDS serves as one indicator of first grade readiness and serves as both a formative and summative role in assessing kindergarten students.

• GKIDS Readiness Check Resources
• GKIDS 2.0 Parent Website
• GKIDS 2.0 Parent Flyer

The GAA 2.0 is designed to ensure that students with significant cognitive disabilities are provided access to the state academic content standards and given the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the knowledge, concepts, and skills of the standards.

This assessment will provide meaningful information about classroom instruction and help identify students’ areas of strength and improvement through standardized tests. GAA 2.0 measures students’ achievement and not progress. The GAA 2.0 will be administered to all eligible students in the following areas:

• Grades 3-8, and 11 will be assessed in English language arts and mathematics.
• Grades 5, 8, and 11 will also be assessed in science and social studies.
• Parent Flyer (English)
• Parent Flyer (Spanish)
• GAA 2.0 Achievement Level Descriptors for Parents

Georgia’s End-of-Pathway Assessment (EOPA) process was created in direct response to the Perkins IV Legislation, which requires states to implement a tool to measure the technical skill attainment level of students participating in career and technical education courses. EOPAs are given to Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) students who successfully complete all the designated courses in a CTAE pathway. Students who are eligible to participate in EOPA testing activities should: have successfully completed the three designated courses in the pathway, or, be enrolled in the final designated course of the pathway and be on track to successfully complete the last designated course. It also provides students who are pathway completers the opportunity to earn certification or certificates that are recognized throughout business and industry in the state and nation while still in high school.

SAT School Day

Gilmer High School is proud to host SAT School Day on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 during regular school hours. SAT School Day provides 11^th and 12^th grade students an opportunity to participate in the SAT with the convenience of a weekday administration and in-school testing site. Registration/fee payment of $40 through SchoolCash Online is required.

Registration is currently open and can be accessed using the link or QR code below. Registration will close on Friday, August 28, 2026 to allow sufficient time for tests to be ordered. Due to the fact that fee reductions have already been applied to reduce rates, fee waivers may NOT be used for SAT School Day at Gilmer High School. 

SAT School Day Registration

PSAT/NMSQT

Subject to state appropriations for the 2026-2027 school year, the state of Georgia will fund one PSAT/NMSQT exam administered during the school day for each 10^th grader enrolled in a Georgia public school. Gilmer High School 10^th graders will participate in the state-funded administration of the PSAT/NMSQT on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 during regular school hours. No registration is required for students who are currently enrolled as 10^th graders at Gilmer High School. Please contact GHS at 706-276-5080 if you have questions. 

Any 11^th or 12^th grade student wishing to participate in the October 6, 2026 administration of the PSAT/NMSQT, for purposes of National Merit Scholarship program identification or otherwise, must register and submit the $15 registration/fee payment through SchoolCash Online by the deadline of Friday, August 28, 2026. Once again due to the fact that fee reductions have already been applied to reduce rates, fee waivers may NOT be used for 11^th or 12^th graders participating in the PSAT/NMSQT at Gilmer High School. 

PSAT/NMSQT Registration

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Students who are English Learners, hold a 504 Plan, or hold an IEP must apply and receive College Board approval prior to use of any testing accommodation. Local school accommodations cannot be applied without written approval from College Board. The deadline to submit SSD requests for accommodations is Monday, August 17, 2026. Please contact Gilmer High School for more information. 

Gilmer High School’s administrations of both SAT School Day and the PSAT/NMSQT are available to home study students residing in the Gilmer County School district. SchoolCash Online, however, will not allow individuals who are are not currently enrolled to create an account. Home study students wishing to participate should therefore contact GHS at 706-276-5080 to schedule a registration appointment. 

Resources

The best way students can prepare for any SAT-related assessment is through challenging coursework and familiarity with the test and its format. It is highly recommended for students to review the SAT School Day Student Guide, along with a practice test, to better understand the directions and become familiar with the types of questions on the test. Students can visit satpractice.org for free personalized practice based on their prior test results (such as PSAT/NMSQT) or diagnostic tools provided through Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. 

Registration process for ACT District Testing

ACT District Testing is hosted at Gilmer High School each year in March, allowing 10th-12th grade students to take the ACT during a regular day at GHS. Students test in a place they know. You don't need to worry about locating your child or getting them to a testing site—they test at their school during regular school hours.

Registration and fee payment through My Payments Plus is required.   Registration opens in December each year.

2025-2026 ACT District Testing Information:

Date: Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

Time: 7:30 AM

Cost: $55.00 

Registration: Dec. 8, 2025 - Jan. 23, 2026.  

Registration is open on My Payments Plus and can be accessed using the link or QR code below.  ACT determines the cost for students based on district enrollment; no reduced fees are offered; all students pay the same price. 

To access My Payments Plus,  click on the link or scan the QR code.  If you need assistance setting up an account, please see the attached flyer.

MyPaymentsPlus

*Students who are English Learners or have a 504 or IEP will have to submit paperwork to ACT to have any accommodations approved by their deadline. Local school accommodations cannot be applied without ACT approval. Please contact your GHS school counselor for more information.

ACT District Testing is available to home study students residing in the Gilmer County Schools district.  Home study students should contact Gilmer High School to schedule a registration appointment, as they will not be able to create a My Payments Plus account. 

Gilmer High School:  (706) 276-5080

Registration Process for Advanced Placement (A.P.) Exams

AP exams allow students an opportunity to demonstrate college-level proficiency and potentially earn advanced post-secondary placement or college credit(s). Policies for credit differ by institution; please consult the post-secondary school you plan to attend for more information. You may also consult College Board’s website at: AP Credit Policy Search 

Select Advanced Placement (AP) exams are offered at Gilmer High School each year in May for associated AP courses offered through Gilmer County Schools. Below are the AP exams that will be offered at Gilmer High School in May of 2026 during a regular day at GHS. Students test in a place they know. You don’t need to worry about locating your child or getting them to the testing site - they test at their school during regular school hours. 

AP Biology* - Monday, May 4, 2026

AP Chemistry* - Tuesday, May 5, 2026

AP Human Geography - Tuesday, May 5, 2026

AP World History: Modern - Thursday, May 7, 2026

AP Statistics* - Thursday, May 7, 2026

AP United States History - Friday, May 8, 2026

AP Precalculus* - Tuesday, May 12, 2026

AP English Language and Composition - Wednesday, May 13, 2026

AP Environmental Science* - Friday, May 15, 2026

*Indicates a designated AP STEM Exam

Registration and any applicable fee payment through the School Cash application is required. Registration opens in January each year. Registration is now open and can be accessed by active students/parents using the link or QR code below. The state of Georgia currently funds one AP STEM* exam for public school students in the state of Georgia. The College Board currently offers fee waivers as well as reduced exam fees for students who qualify. For more information regarding income eligibility guidelines for fee waivers and/or reduced exam fees, please speak with a Gilmer High School guidance counselor. The deadline to register is Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 

SchoolCash Online

Students who are English Learners, hold a 504 Plan, or hold an IEP must submit required paperwork to the College Board to have any accommodations approved by their deadline. Local school accommodations cannot be applied without approval from the College Board. Please contact your GHS guidance counselor for more information. 

Any AP exam that is offered at Gilmer High School is available to home study students residing in the Gilmer County Schools district. Please consult the list of AP exams offered at Gilmer High School above. Home study students wishing to participate should contact Gilmer High School to schedule a registration appointment, as they will not be able to create a School Cash account to register. 

Gilmer High School: (706) 276-5080

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is a comprehensive summative assessment program and represents a single system of summative assessments that span all three levels of the state's educational system – elementary, middle, and high school.  The system is designed to send consistent signals about students' preparedness for the next level, be it the next grade, course, or endeavor, such as entering college or beginning a career after leaving the K-12 educational system.

Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Georgia Milestones is a single assessment system that consists of end-of-grade measures in English language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8, end-of-grade measures in science in grades 5 and 8, end-of-grade measure in social studies in grade 8, and end-of-course measures for specified high school courses (American Literature & Composition, Algebra 1, Biology, and United States History).

The end-of-course measures are administered at the completion of the course, regardless of the grade level. Middle school students who are enrolled in one or more of these courses are required to take the associated end-of-course (EOC) measure.  These measures serve as the final exam for the course and contribute 20% of the student's final course grade.

Georiga Milestone Resources for Students and Parents

Georgia Milestones EOG and EOC Practice Tests

Georgia Milestones EOG and EOC Study/Resource Guides

GMAS Parent Q & A English & Spanish

Parent Guide to Interpreting the Georgia Milestones Student Report

Georgia Milestone Achievement Level Descriptors for Parents