State of the Georgia Girl Report

K-12 Proficiency: Mathematics, continued. The 10-year trend in girls’ math proficiency in Georgia is mixed. While middle grades show moderate variances in on-grade level performance, significant improvements occurred among fourth and eighth grade. The 9-point gain posted by eighth-grade girls scoring on grade level is a notable improvement that suggests middle-grade math instruction and improvements in the social encouragement are taking root. Georgia girls made significant gains in math proficiency in 4th and 8th grade over the last decade. Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments, Mathematics, 2014-2015 and 2024-2025.

Girls’ Math Proficiency – On Grade Level, 2015 vs 2025

47%

47%

40%

39%

39%

39%

39%

38%

37%

36%

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

2015

2025

Adults play a significant role in shaping girls’ confidence and competence in math. Teachers may unconsciously favor boys in mathematics discussions or assign boys more challenging math tasks, reinforcing the notion that boys are naturally better at the subject (Copur-Gencturk, 2023). At the same time, when girls are presented with same-gender role models in mathematics, their performance and interest in the subject increase (Master, 2014; Gladstone, 2024). Each of these influences compounds over years of schooling, shaping the field of study girls choose in high school and the careers they pursue in adulthood.

89% of Georgia Girl Scouts believe they can be good at many different things.

POWERED BY THE GIRL SCOUT COUNCILS SERVING THE STATE OF GEORGIA 63