Four schools in the Clarke County School District were identified this week by the Georgia Department of Education as “Math Leaders” for having exceptional achievement or growth in state mathematics standardized testing scores last school year. 

Following the release of 2023-24 Georgia Milestones testing data earlier this year, schools were recognized for achievement or growth in the percentage of students scoring at the Proficient Learner level or above in mathematics. The criteria for the 2023-2024 Math Leader Awards recognize the crucial importance of numeracy skills in fifth and eighth grades and require higher growth from schools with lower achievement levels. Awards were given at the elementary and middle school levels and at the high-school level based on the Algebra: Concepts and Connections end-of-course exam, which is the state test for mathematics in high school.

Among the CCSD schools recognized:

• Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School was recognized with a High School Gateway Achievement award for having 94.1% of its eighth-grade students last year score “Proficient” or above on the Algebra EOC test.

• Cleveland Road Elementary was recognized for 3rd Grade Growth and 5th Grade Gateway Growth. The school saw a 25.8-point jump in fifth-graders scoring Proficient or above (from 17.4% in 2022-23 to 43.2 last school year) and a 19.9-point increase in third-graders scoring proficient or above (from 34.1% to 54%).

• Timothy Road Elementary was recognized for 5th Grade Gateway Growth after increasing its percentage of fifth-graders who scored Proficient or above from 37.7% to 54.5%. 

• Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary was recognized for 5th Grade Gateway Growth after increasing its fifth-grade proficiency rate from 19.2% to 34.2%. 

“I am thrilled, but not surprised, that four of our schools have achieved this designation,” said Dr. Robbie Hooker, CCSD Superintendent. “All of the schools in our district have been working hard to move our students to Proficient or above in the areas of literacy and math, and that hard work is paying off. We will continue to maintain high expectations for all students and focus on progress to help move our students forward.“

GaDOE recognized 624 schools across the state in the first year of these awards. State School Superintendent Richard Woods will travel to each school to present them with their awards later this school year. You can read more about the Math Leader criteria here. 

“Congratulations to our first-ever Math Leader schools!” Superintendent Woods said. “The skill of numeracy is an essential one, both as students progress through their K-12 education and in their futures. These schools and their educators, students, families, and communities have worked hard to implement the new K-12 Mathematics Standards and prepare all students for life. I commend them on their outstanding work.”