Oconee County Middle School has been designated a 2021 BreakoutSchool by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals (GASSP). The school is one of only two middle schools in Georgia chosen for this state honor that recognizes secondary schools that are high-achieving or dramatically improving school performance. Notably, OCMS also received this state honor in 2019.

“Oconee County Middle School is extremely proud of this honor that would not have been made possible without the hard work of our students, teachers, and parents,” said Principal Keith Carter. “The OCMS team strives daily to meet the needs of all students and provide an instructional environment that is safe and academically challenging. We would like to publicly thank the entire Oconee community for their support of OCMS.”

Schools are selected based on documented success in implementing strategies aligned with three specific areas – collaborative leadership; personalization; and curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Oconee County Middle received the award, in large part, due to excellence in the following:

• Collaborative Leadership – OCMS seeks to build relationships between staff, students, parents, and community members and provides a variety of feedback opportunities. The school also places an importance on building instructional relationships and has done so through a variety of collaborations within the school and with the University of Georgia.

• Personalization - The connection between OCMS and the local community is essential in meeting the diverse educational needs of the modern learner. This community connection helps provide a personalized educational experience for each student. 

• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment – The school has fostered collective responsibility in ensuring student achievement through the use of processes such as Response to Intervention (RTI). OCMS uses data to identify improvement targets, including subgroup improvement targets, to ensure students receive needed interventions and support to reach their full potential.

Of note is that OCMS’ most recent CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) score is 92.1 – an “A” as designated by the Georgia Department of Education. In addition, the school has earned a 5/5 School Climate Rating 

“Congratulations to the entire Oconee County Middle School community for this well-deserved recognition in being named a Breakout School for the second time in three years," said Superintendent Jason Branch. “The teachers, leaders, and students of OCMS continue to excel in academics, athletics, the arts, and service-learning. The school maintains a commitment to meeting its motto - 'Win the Day' - and they've certainly done just that with this honor." 

Oconee County Middle School was recognized at the GASSP fall conference for this prestigious honor.