Atlanta 1/13/05 -
Schools from across the state received some great news today as State Superintendent of Schools announced the 2005 Georgia Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement.
"I can't be more proud of these schools, their dedicated teachers, and the motivational leadership of their principals who have all focused their attention on improving student achievement," said an excited State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "Time after time they step up to the plate, showing tremendous commitment to helping all students learn at high levels. These are truly schools of excellence."
The Georgia Schools of Excellence program recognizes those schools that have shown significant improvement, as well as those that are consistent top performers. It has evolved from a subjective application process to a more objective data-driven model that uses test scores as its foundation.
The 20 schools represent 18 different school systems. In each congressional district that had qualifying schools, one winner was selected from each of the following categories:
1. The top 10 percent in student achievement in reading/language arts and math or
2. The greatest continuous gains in student achievement in reading/language arts and math over the previous three-year period.
Other standards used to select the Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement were:
Schools have been in existence a minimum of five full years.
Non-Title I schools met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2003 and 2004.
Title I schools met Adequate Yearly Progress for the past three years.
A minimum of 90 percent of the staff is designated as highly qualified.
Each high school met or exceeded the 2004 Georgia High School Graduation Test mean scaled score in both science and social studies.
Each high school offers at least 2 Advanced Placement courses.
No school is designated as persistently dangerous under the Unsafe School choice Option.
Can only be named a School of Excellence once every 5 years.
All winners will be honored at a banquet to take place in Atlanta on April 29th.
2005 Georgia Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement in the top 10 percent in reading/language arts and math:
| District | System | School | Principal |
| 1 | Ware | Ware Magnet | Darlene Tanner |
| 2 | Dougherty | Lincoln Elementary (Magnet) | Sheryl Holmes |
| 4 | Dekalb | Browns Mill Elementary | Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler |
| 5 | Atlanta City | Morningside Elementary | Catalina B. Pescatore |
| 6 | Cobb | Walton High | Dr. Thomas S. Higgins |
| 7 | Gwinnett | Riverside Elementary | Craig Barlow |
| 8 | Fayette | Starrs Mill High | Sam Sweat |
| 9 | Columbia | Lakeside High | Jeff Carney |
| 10 | Forsyth | Mashburn Elementary | Joseph M. Pirkle |
| 12 | Richmond | Davidson Fine Arts School | Vicky Addison |
Note: Congressional districts 3, 11, & 13 had no schools that met all criteria for 2005.
2005 Georgia Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement demonstrating the greatest gains in reading/language arts and math over the previous three-year period.
| District | System | School | Principal |
| 1 | Pierce | Patterson Elementary | Stephany Smith |
| 2 | Colquitt | Hamilton Elementary | Brenda K. DeMott |
| 3 | Houston | Kings Chapel Elementary | Paulette Tompkins |
| 4 | DeKalb | Peachtree Middle | Steve Donahue |
| 6 | Cherokee | Arnold Mill Elementary | Ann Sawicki |
| 7 | Cherokee | Sequoyah High | Elliott Berman |
| 8 | Coweta | Jefferson Parkway Elementary | Bill Sanborn |
| 9 | Rabun | Rabun County Middle | Jan Pearce |
| 10 | Catoosa | Graysville Elementary | Denia Reese |
| 11 | Polk | Westside Elementary | Marshelle Thaxton |
Note: Congressional Districts 5, 12, & 13 had no schools that met all criteria for 2005.
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