A number of Georgia public schools are receiving national recognition for their successes, despite the many challenges they faced last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight schools have been recognized as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools from the U.S. Department of Education and two Georgia public schools – Smoke Rise Elementary School in DeKalb County and Hill City Elementary School in Pickens County – have been recognized as 2021 National ESEA Distinguished Schools.
The Georgia schools named 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools are:
● Bleckley County High School, Bleckley County Schools
● Crabapple Lane Elementary School, Fayette County Schools
● Elite Scholars Academy, Clayton County Schools
● High Shoals Elementary School, Oconee County Schools
● Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson City Schools
● Johns Creek Elementary School, Forsyth County Schools
● Oakhurst Elementary School, City Schools of Decatur
● Riverview Elementary School, Dawson County Schools
“The students, teachers, staff, and families of these schools have worked tirelessly, particularly during the last year and a half, and their efforts are paying off in increased achievement for students,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes schools in two performance categories:
● Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
● Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
Private schools are nominated through a separate process by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). A Georgia private school, Fulton Science Academy in Alpharetta, was also recognized this year.
Smoke Rise Elementary School in DeKalb County and Hill City Elementary School in Pickens County were recognized as 2021 National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished Schools by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA). The honor is presented to two of the highest-performing Title I schools in every state. In Georgia, the top-performing five percent of Title I schools based upon the most recent CCRPI score are eligible to apply.
“Despite the challenging circumstances of the last year, Smoke Rise Elementary and Hill City Elementary are putting forth an outstanding effort to provide an excellent education for every student,” Woods said.
A total of 75 Title I Distinguished Georgia schools were eligible to apply for this recognition. These honorees were selected based on academic achievement utilizing the school’s FY19 CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) score, poverty level, increase from FY18 CCRPI score to the FY19 CCRPI score, and written responses to initiatives implemented that resulted in outstanding academic achievement among traditionally underserved subgroups of students.
