
Elkins Pointe Middle School students, staff, and parents worked together to provide support for one of their own. On Friday, January 27, 2012, Assistant Principal, Nick Cassidy, had his head shaved by the student holding the winning ticket, in solidarity with leukemia patients. Ticket sales raised funds to support the healthcare costs of a fellow classmate. The community surpassed their initial goal and was able to present the family with a contribution of $2,500 to help defray medical costs.
For a sixth year, more than a third of all Fulton County schools have been recognized for high performance or improvement, according to a recent announcement made by the Georgia Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.
The Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) recognition program awarded 38 Fulton County schools – an increase from the previous year’s 34 schools – in two categories, Greatest Gains and Highest Performance. The annual list, which this year included 370 schools across Georgia, highlights those that are making great strides in educating students.
“It’s outstanding that the number of Fulton schools receiving state recognition continues to grow,” said Superintendent Robert Avossa. “From 31 in 2009, to 34 in 2010, to 38 in 2011 – these increases show that our schools are meeting their goals when it comes to teaching and preparing students for the future. I couldn’t be more proud of our students and teachers.”
Schools in the Greatest Gains category showed the greatest improvement in scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) or the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT). Those in the Highest Performance category demonstrated the highest achievement on the CRCT or GHSGT. Awards are granted in four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. (See chart for a description of awards criteria)
The SSAS award structure combines criteria for making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a cornerstone of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (often know as No Child Left Behind), with performance data on state curriculum exams.
The awards announcement coincides with the release of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement’s 2010-11 Report Card (www.gaosa.org/report.aspx). The report card, which includes Fulton County Schools data, provides an online resource of student achievement, personnel and fiscal data for each school and school system in the state, as well as preschool, higher education and teacher certification information.
Greatest Gains Category:
Platinum