Athens Reporter

Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods awarded three Jackson County schools with recognition banners on Friday afternoon. East Jackson Elementary School, Legacy Knoll Middle School, and West Jackson Middle School were honored with Mathematics Leader Banners. Additionally, West Jackson Middle School received a Literacy Leader Banner.

The Math Leader Schools are acknowledged at the state level for their understanding and demonstration of the fundamental importance of mathematics in students' education and future careers. East Jackson Elementary was recognized for fifth-grade Gateway Growth, while Legacy Knoll Middle was acknowledged for high school achievement. West Jackson Middle School was recognized for growth in sixth and seventh grades, eighth-grade gateway growth, as well as high school achievement and growth.

The qualifications for Math Leader recognition are based on students achieving the Proficient Learner level or above on the Georgia Milestones mathematics assessments.

Schools also received recognition for achievement or growth in the percentage of students reading at or above grade level. The criteria for Literacy Leader awards highlight the critical importance of grade-level reading in third and sixth grades.

West Jackson Middle School earned its Literacy Leader title due to gateway growth in sixth grade and growth in seventh and eighth grades. The qualifications for this award use the Georgia Milestones Reading Status indicator, which relies on the Lexile score linked to students’ performance on a subset of questions from the ELA assessment.

Previously, Gum Springs Elementary and Maysville Elementary were presented with Literacy Leader Banners during the 2023-24 school year.