Demonstrating the Dougherty County School System’s (DCSS) commitment to advancing student literacy and math skills, eight schools in the district have been named Literacy and Math Leaders by the Georgia Department of Education. These honors, which recognize outstanding student growth and proficiency, highlight a cornerstone of DCSS’s Strategic Plan: early literacy.

The recognition comes as DCSS reports a remarkable 41% increase in overall student literacy since 2021, thanks in part to several targeted programs and initiatives. The awards will be presented on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, by Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods, who will personally present commemorative banners to the principals of each honored school during a ceremony at Dougherty Comprehensive High School.

According to the GaDOE, in order to qualify to be a Literacy or Math leader schools had to fall into one of two categories:

To be a high achievement Literacy or Math Leader, 90 percent or more of students had to score proficient or above on the Georgia Milestones. To be a Literacy Leader or Math Leader for growth, schools had to show at least a 15% percent increase of students reading at or above grade level or a 15% increase in the number of students scoring proficient or higher in tested math subjects.

Additionally, schools who had more than 98% of students in a tested area score proficient or higher were designated as “outstanding.” The DCSS had one school earn that designation, Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School who earned the “outstanding” designation for its students who took high school math courses.

Recognized Schools and Distinctions:

Literacy Leaders

• Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet: 6th Grade Gateway Achievement (94.5% proficiency), 6th Grade Gateway Growth (+10.8), 7th Grade Achievement (96.5% proficiency), 8th Grade Achievement (96.3% proficiency)

• Turner Elementary School: 3rd Grade Gateway Growth (+18)

• International Studies Elementary Charter: 3rd Grade Gateway Growth (+10.4)

• West Town Elementary School: 3rd Grade Gateway Growth (+22.1) (Second year being named a Literacy Leader).

Math Leaders

• Lake Park Elementary School: 3rd Grade Growth (+11.1), 5th Grade Gateway Growth (+35.4)

• Monroe High School: High School Growth (+18.3)

• Dougherty Comprehensive High School: High School Growth (+17.1)

• Westover High School: High School Growth (+17.3)

• Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet: High School Achievement/Outstanding Achievement (100% proficiency)

Strategic Investments in Early Literacy

The Dougherty County School System has made early literacy a priority since 2018 when Superintendent Kenneth Dyer first stepped into that seat. From then until the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the district had seen steadily rising literacy rates among its elementary students until – just as it had across the country – interrupted learning as a result of the pandemic caused those numbers to drop.

According to information presented to school board members across Georgia back in 2021, noted educational leader Bill 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 significantly behind academically in areas such as reading and math. Daggett presented nationwide data that showed that on average, K-5 students had dropped to a low of 77% of academic achievement in reading from that of pre-COVID levels and as low as 37% percent in math.

“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.

As one of the five pillars of the DCSS Strategic Plan, early literacy has been at the forefront of the district’s mission to address academic disparities and strengthen foundational learning for students. The district has introduced several initiatives to support this mission, including:

Literacy Specialists and Coordinators - Dedicated positions have been created to provide targeted support and professional development.

Enhanced Professional Learning for Teachers - The district has invested in the Science of Reading framework and LETRS training, ensuring that teachers have access to the latest research-based literacy practices.

Expansion of Pre-K Services - By securing additional Pre-K classrooms, DCSS has been able to serve over 160 more students, helping to build early literacy skills from a young age.

Extended Instructional Time and Tutoring Programs - Targeted after-school tutoring, additional instructional time, and Saturday school programs, such as the Read to Succeed initiative, provide students with critical reinforcement in reading and writing skills .

"These honors show that the district and its schools continue to make progress when it comes to those foundational tenets of education. This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students and educators," DCSS Superintendent Kenneth Dyer said. “There is no doubt that we still have work to do to reach our ultimate goals; but, the progress we are making is undeniable. The resilience of our students and the work being done by our teachers, administrators and support staff further reinforce our commitment to foundational literacy and numeracy.”