These schools in the Columbus area won a state award for improving their test scores
Two schools in the Columbus area have received a state award for significant improvement in educating students from low-income families.
Park Elementary School of Harris County and the Chattahoochee County Education Center are among this year’s 75 Reward Schools announced by the Georgia Department of Education.
To win this award, a school must be in the top 5% of Georgia’s Title I schools showing the greatest improvement when comparing the content mastery scores on state tests in English language arts and math during the past two years.
Title I is the federal program that provides extra money to schools with at least 35% of their students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, based on family income and household size. For example, the program’s maximum family income level for a four-member household this school year is $55,500.
Nearly three out of every four Georgia public schools in K-12 (1,639 out of 2,314) received Title I funding.
The GaDOE also announced the 2023 Distinguished Schools. These 79 schools have the highest 5% of combined ELA and math scores on state tests among Georgia’s Title I schools during the past year.
No school in Muscogee, Harris or Chattahoochee counties is a Distinguished School this year.
“It is essential that we recognize and celebrate schools making great strides as we maintain our focus on continuous improvement for all Georgia schools,” GaDOE superintendent Richard Woods said in a news release. “The schools on these lists have made significant efforts in overcoming barriers, meeting challenges and producing great gains for their students. I applaud the 2022-23 Distinguished and Reward Schools leaders, teachers, parents and communities for creating opportunities for student success.”
On the Georgia Milestones Assessment System, the state’s standardized tests, CCEC improved its percentage of students scoring at least on the proficient level in third-grade English language arts, reading and math when comparing the 2022 and 2023 results.
Park improved its percentage of students scoring at least proficient or on grade level on all the Georgia Milestones in fourth grade:
- Reading 63.3 in 2022 and 69.2 in 2023
- ELA 44.3 in 2022 and 50.0 in 2023
- Math 54.4 in 2022 and 60.3 in 2023.
Park principal Allyson Douthit credits the school’s implementation of the National Reading Panel’s Five Pillars of Reading approximately four years ago: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
“The consistent improvement of this practice has allowed for our procedures with analyzing monthly data to become more in depth, and the analysis has better informed instructional practices with our students to tailor their learning experiences and goal setting,” she told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “Teachers at Park Elementary have fully supported and driven this implementation through their dedicated planning, analysis and execution. They saw the need and took action after careful collaboration with the instructional coach and administration.”
ChattCo superintendent Kristie Brooks noted no grade level in 3-5 at CCEC exceeded the state average for the percentage of students reading at or above grade level in 2022. But in 2023, the third and fifth grades exceeded the state average as CCEC students on average displayed a 33% growth rate, she said.
“The CCEC team has been intentional in providing high-quality reading instruction to every child,” Brooks told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “The entire team has truly embraced using individual student data on the specific pillars of reading to guide their instructional practices.”
CCEC teachers participate in classroom coaching and lesson modeling to boost their instructional technique and learning environment, Brooks said. She also praises the teachers for connecting well with their students and parents.
“Their willingness to focus on literacy and to communicate these findings to parents has been remarkable,” she said. “When I go into classrooms, I remain in awe at the robust vocabulary that the teachers use when communicating with students and the way our teachers are able to have students meet growth targets.”
CCEC principal Kenyada Heard told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email, “CCEC has diligently worked to establish a culture of high expectations. Consistent and frequent communication among stakeholders regarding student performance and progress has contributed to collaborative relationships focused on high achievement.”
This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
