The front entrance of Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School is shown. Because of their students’ improvements of test scores and reading proficiency, multiple Clarke County School District schools, BHL included, received awards from the Georgia Department of Education. “The Clarke County School had three middle schools recognized as Math Leaders and three elementary schools designated as Literacy Leaders by the (GaDOE) for demonstrating exceptional achievement or growth in mathematics and reading scores during the 2024-25 school year compared to 2023-24,” The CCSD stated in a Nov. 11 press release. Photo from the ODYSSEY archives
The CCSD had three middle schools and three elementary schools recognized by the Georgia Department of Education for their students’ growth in mathematics and reading scores.
The Clarke County School District announced that six CCSD schools: three middle schools and three elementary schools received awards from the Georgia Department of Education for academic achievements and growth during the 2024-25 school year in a press release sent out on Nov. 11.
An infographic shows the growth Burney-Harris-Lyons, Hilsman and Clarke Middle Schools had from their eighth grade students on the Algebra: Concepts and Connections End-of-Course test. BHL received their award from the Georgia Department of Education for having over 90% of its students scoring proficient or higher on the Algebra End-of-Course exam, while HMS and CMS received theirs for having an over 5% increase in proficient or higher scores. “I am so proud of the gains made by all of these schools as they demonstrate the impact that strong instruction and support have on student achievement,” CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott stated in a press release. Graphic by Abigail Holloway
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School was awarded the High School Achievement award in math for the school’s eighth grade students who took the Algebra: Concepts and Connections, a high-school level class, End-Of-Course exam, with 90% of them scoring proficient or above.
Hilsman and Clarke Middle Schools were both awarded High School Growth recognitions in math for having a nearly 30% increase in eighth grade students scoring proficient or above on the algebra exam. The requirement for this award was at least a 5% increase.
An infographic shows the growth Winterville, Fowler Drive and Bettye H. Holston Elementary Schools made in third graders reading on or above their grade level from the 2023-24 to 2024-25 school years. All three schools were recognized as Literacy Leaders by the Georgia Department of Education for their growth. “These Literacy and Math Leader awards are evidence that when we set ambitious goals and work together to raise the bar, our students will rise up to meet our expectations. I could not be prouder of the collective effort that has led to this success,” CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott stated in a press release. Graphic by Abigail Holloway
Bettye H. Holston, Fowler Drive and Winterville Elementary Schools were all recognized withThird Grade Gateway Growth awards under the GaDOE’s Literacy Leader recognition awards. These awards were given to schools showing large increases in the number of third grade students reading at or above grade level based on the Georgia Milestones Assessment System.
“These Literacy and Math Leader awards are evidence that when we set ambitious goals and work together to raise the bar, our students will rise up to meet our expectations.”
— Dr. Jennifer Scott,
CCSD Interim Superintendant
CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott expressed pride to see schools in the district receiving such awards and sees them as proof of the effort students can put in when given the opportunity, as well as the growth of the district.
“I am so proud of the gains made by all of these schools as they demonstrate the impact that strong instruction and support have on student achievement,” Scott said. “These Literacy and Math Leader awards are evidence that when we set ambitious goals and work together to raise the bar, our students will rise up to meet our expectations. I could not be prouder of the collective effort that has led to this success.”