All Dougherty County School System schools improved their overall literacy rates according to the latest testing data from the Georgia Department of Education. 

The data, as reflected in the 2023 College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI), shows that 100 percent of the elementary, middle and high schools saw an increase in literacy rates for the 2022-2023 school year. 

In 2019, under the leadership of Superintendent Kenneth Dyer, the DCSS launched an effort to develop what is ultimately an ambitious strategic plan, entitled, The Way Forward: Rigor, Relevance, Relationships and Resilience.  The plan was developed after input from various groups, including students, parents, faculty, staff, business leaders and other community stakeholders. The five priority areas are Early Literacy, Academic Rigor and Relevance, Social-Emotional Wellness, Investment in Human Capital and Family and Community Engagement.

As the  first of the plan’s five priority areas, district leaders have vowed to “... provide students with a strong foundation in early literacy to prepare each and every student to be college and/or career ready.”

According to information presented to school board members across Georgia back in 2021, Daggett shared that data from McKinsey and Co. – a global research firm – showed that, when compared to the average academic gain during the three pre-pandemic years, students who had come through the pandemic had fallen behind academically in areas such as reading and math. Students of color and those from economically disadvantaged families, the data shows, had fallen behind the most . 

“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re not going to make that up in a Summer session,” Daggett told the crowd. “It’s going to be a multi-year journey to recapture that.”

District and school leaders have committed to that “multi-year journey,” Daggett spoke of and have poured time and resources into building a foundation for success for Early Literacy efforts. The district has created four new positions for Early Literacy Specialists and has invested in LETRS – Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling – Training for teachers to equip them with new techniques for helping students learn to read. The district has also invested in new tools like Saxon Phonics and Heggerty – which promote phonemic awareness for students. 

The district has also partnered with organizations like the Share the Magic Foundation’s Read with Malcolm program to promote opportunities for students to read. Between October and February, elementary students within the district read over 11 million minutes as part of the group’s Read Bowl challenge. 

Rising literacy levels at three schools earned them a special designation from the state as “Literacy Leaders,” a first-of-its-kind acknowledgement of schools who saw a greater than 15 percent increase in literacy scores year-over-year among third grade students. Northside Elementary led the pack with a 20.7% increase followed by Lamar Reese Magnet School of the Arts at 15.9% increase and then West Town Elementary School with a 15.6% increase. Since 2019 when the district first started its efforts on early literacy, the average increase across all elementary schools and all grades is 25.3>#/p###

It’s all part of the district’s deliberate effort through its Strategic Plan to help make the Dougherty County School System a destination school system that, in partnership with families and community stakeholders, provides quality educational and social development experiences that empower its graduates to be successful and impactful contributors to society.

“While we acknowledge that there is still much work to do, we are pleased with the direction we are headed, and are excited for the future of our students, our school system and our community,” Dyer said.