NEW: Another year, another significant milestone for the Bartow County School System! Just released today by the Georgia Department of Education - the BCSS four-year graduation rate reaches 95% - a new all-time high!
“That exceeds the state rate by more than 10%,” said Bartow County School System Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “Five years ago, our graduation rate sat at 87.1%. Knowing these are crucial metrics in the field of education, our staff worked with intentionality and focus through the Professional Learning Communities process to raise rates considerably. It worked, and I am very proud of our staff and students. These rates truly provide valuable insights into the success and effectiveness of schools and systems across the Nation.”
Adairsville High School leads the county with the highest graduation rate – 98.6%, up from 96.6% last year. School leaders also graduated more students with disabilities than any other school in the system. Increasing their outcome by 7.1 percentage points, AHS recorded a 96.3% graduation rate this year for students with disabilities.
“With the continued commitment of our dedicated staff and students, I am not surprised AHS once again demonstrated one of the highest success rates in the state with a 98.6% graduation rate - a 2% increase from the previous year,” said AHS Principal Dr. Lexie Bultman. “We have the right people doing the right work as their focus remains steadfast on collaboration, learning, and results.”
Cass High School records another record-high graduation rate – 92.5%. That is up .41 percentage points from last year.
“We are proud of the class of 2023 for setting yet another school record with a 92.5% graduation rate,” said CHS Principal Steve Revard. “Our teachers, counselors, support staff, parents, and community all play a significant role preparing our students to become college and career ready.”
Woodland High School maintains a 95.3% graduation rate, which is above the milestone 95% plane for the third year in a row. Its graduation rate for students with disabilities also jumped from 82.8% last year to 90% this year.
“Three straight years at over a 95% graduation rate clearly demonstrates the culture shift that our staff and students are committed to,” said WHS Principal David Stephenson. “Our families and community know that their children will learn and achieve when they enroll at Woodland. I am particularly proud of our exceptional education grad rate, which exceeded 90% this year. At Woodland, our vision is ALL students learning and achieving at the highest levels, and our graduation rate is a strong signal of our progress towards that vision.”
HOPE FOR CHRISTMAS: Registration is now OPEN for this Bless Coalition event! Check it out! Toys, clothes, grocery store gift cards, and more!
Register here: https://bless.hopeforchristmas.com/
NEW: CALLING ALL SENIORS! The governor just launched a new initiative called GEORGIA MATCH that could help you find the perfect college!
---INFO FROM THE STATE---
GEORGIA MATCH is a partnership between the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Technical College System of Georgia, University System of Georgia, and Georgia Department of Education led by the Governor’s Office.
During the month of October, every public and private high-school senior in the state will receive a GEORGIA MATCH letter showing them which TCSG and USG institutions they are academically qualified to attend based on their HOPE GPA (the three exceptions to this are UGA, Georgia Tech, and Georgia College & State University). Students can choose to “Request Info” or “Claim My Spot” for any institution they match with.
If a student chooses “Request Info,” the college or university will contact them directly with additional information. If they choose “Claim My Spot,” they will be directed to complete application/enrollment information and the college or university will confirm final admissions eligibility using their usual processes.
For more information on GEORGIA MATCH, please go to GAFutures.org or contact your school counselor.
HOCO: A few of our favorite snaps from Adairsville's beautiful Homecoming!
Congratulations, AHS 2023 Homecoming Queen and King Darby Adams and Luke Altizer!
Congratulations, Homecoming Princesses:
9th grade ~ Karsyn Edmondson
10th grade ~ Bethany Kilgore
11th grade ~ Sadie Abernathy
12th grade ~ Madison Abernathy
HOCO HAPPINESS: Check out this sweet capture of second grade Cloverleaf Elementary School Student Oliver Chamberlain and Bartow County School Police Chief Billy Henson!
Chief Henson and Cass High School asked Oliver to be the Grand Marshal of the CHS Homecoming Parade! While we're celebrating Homecoming, we're also celebrating Oliver! Not too long ago, he BEAT his fight against acute lymphoblastic leukemia! About two years of oral chemotherapy, infusions, and spinal taps couldn’t keep Oliver down. He fought HARD and WON!
In addition to the official Grand Marshal duties, Oliver also received a tour of the Cartersville Fire Department and Cartersville Police Department. He also sat in on the parade operations meeting at the PD!
A HOCO to remember, for sure!
HOCO: Just a snapshot of Cass High School's Homecoming Parade in Downtown Cartersville & Senior Sunrise! Up next...kickoff at 7:30 p.m. against Woodland High School!
📸 Cartersville Uncut
#BETTER IN BARTOW: Another day, another STEM Walk for Adairsville Middle School! The weather has been too nice not to utilize all the outdoor space for STEM activities!
Fun Fact: AMS is the only school in the county that is state STEM certified!
BARTOW BRAG MOMENT: Not only did Adairsville High School Senior Callie Viktora earn the top score of a 5 on her AP Research Exam, but she is also 1 of only 357 STUDENTS from around the WORLD to earn EVERY POINT POSSIBLE on this challenging, college-level examination! That puts Callie in an extremely select category! Congratulations!
BRAND NEW OPPORTUNITY: Turn a hobby or interest into a winning project through the Georgia Student Technology Competition! Click on the link for more information!
https://www.bartow.k12.ga.us/article/1262252
IT'S HAPPENING: Remember our GT Superfan Brayden Warren? While Coach Key was recruiting at Cass last January, he ran into Brayden and promised him a football game! Well, Coach Key is making good on that promise THIS SATURDAY!!! Stay tuned! Pictures to come!
IN THE NEWS: We love seeing our students in publications! Here are a few Euharlee Elementary School students in Atlanta Parent Magazine!
CENTRAL OFFICE CELEBRATIONS: When you work in a school system and community like this, you have a lot to celebrate! And, if you know Superintendent Page, then you know he likes to celebrate the RIGHT WORK. In the Bartow County School System, the right work supports learning, collaboration, and results. That's what we value.
This month, we celebrate and honor Robin Rickles, our Payroll and Benefits Manager. Robin's energy, positivity, and professionalism is simply unmatched. We are proud to have her as part of our special BCSS Family! Congratulations, Robin! You make us all better!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Cass High School's HOCO Parade in Downtown Cartersville! Cheer on your Colonel's Thursday night!
HOCO: Woodland "WOWS" us once again! Check out how these Wildcats celebrated Homecoming!🤩
The Georgia Department of Education recognizes Emerson Elementary School, Euharlee Elementary School, and Hamilton Crossing Elementary School as Literacy Leaders!
A total of 155 schools from across the state met the qualifications to be recognized in achievement and/or outstanding growth categories. Seventy schools were granted achievement awards after Georgia Milestones scores showed 90% or more of their third grade students were reading at grade level or above.
Eighty-four schools in the growth category, including EES, EHES, and HCES, showed a 15% or higher increase in the number of third graders reading at grade level or above from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
Congratulations EES Teachers April Lanham and Janna Scheff. They noted 20% growth and attribute their literacy success to the three big ideas of Professional Learning Communities – learning, collaboration, and results.
“I was thrilled when I got the phone call from State School Superintendent Richard Woods' office letting me know that we received this recognition,” said EES Principal Paige Bennett. “It is not every day that you get a phone call like that. I was happy to share the news with my third grade teachers and staff members to let them know that their hard work is being recognized. Our third grade team focused on Tier 1 instruction and setting the expectation high for all students. They exposed all students to grade level text every day during Tier 1 instruction. They were purposeful and intentional when creating groups for Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction, always using the data to drive those decisions. I am very proud of these teachers and students!”
EHES Teachers Amanda Brackett, Jennifer Williams, and Tina Abrams also saw 20% growth from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
“We are very excited to receive word that Euharlee Elementary is being recognized as a Literacy Leader for growth,” said EHES Principal Jim Bishop. “Our third grade team jumped from 56% at or above grade level in 2021-22 to 76% at or above grade level in 2022-23. The team attributed several practices to this amazing improvement. The reading teachers collaborated frequently to plan instruction and review assessment results to address the needs of students. They also implemented close reading strategies, focused vocabulary instruction, and conferenced with students on a regular basis. Their new goal is to be recognized for outstanding achievement by having 90% of students reading at or above grade level.”
HCES and its team of four teachers and one reading specialist, including Erin James, Emily Pittman, Penny Roberts, Regina Boudreaux, and Michelle Scileppi, record 19.9% growth and proudly accept the Literacy Leader Award.
“I am so excited and proud that our teachers and students are being recognized at the state level for their hard work,” said HCES Principal Lynn Robertson. “Our reading specialist has provided coaching and professional development to our teachers to support classroom instruction. We have a process in place that ensures that all students get what they need to achieve success. The data is showing that the process is working.”
On October 16, 2023, State Superintendent Richard Woods will be visiting the Bartow County School System to present the Literacy Leaders Award and acknowledge the work teachers are doing to equip students with the important lifelong skills of reading and writing.
CHECK THIS OUT: As a result of the collaborative work of the Academy’s health science teachers, the student pass rate on the National Healthcareer Association exam rose from 15% to 81%!
https://www.solutiontree.com/plc.../success-stories/bartow
NEW: Choose where your tax dollars go. Your state tax dollars can stay local and directly benefit the Bartow County College and Career Academy with no additional cost to you.
Click the link below for more information.
https://5il.co/25dfo
REMINDER: Tomorrow, September 20, will be an Early Release Day! Elementary schools dismiss at 11:30 a.m. and middle/high schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be served, and buses will run on an early dismissal schedule. After School programs will continue to operate.
REMINDER: Grab those resumes and come on! Our next Job Fair starts Thursday!
BOARD RECOGNITIONS: MEET YOUR AP SCHOLARS AND TEACHERS OF DISTINCTION!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064859735458