Career Academy gets ‘platinum’ award

Published 7:51 am Friday, January 7, 2011

The Whitfield Career Academy received a platinum award from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement recently for being among the top schools in the state for making gains among students meeting and exceeding standards.

The award comes also from the Georgia Department of Education, which recognizes schools based on their performance on state curriculum exams and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a set of testing, attendance and graduation rate requirements established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

“We are thrilled that the students of the Career Academy have earned this award,” Assistant Principal Stephanie Hungerpiller said. “Achieving this honor is a group effort. Our teachers work hard every day to create and design meaningful and engaging work for all students. Our students work diligently in order to reach their maximum potential. It is great for our students and faculty to have their efforts recognized by the Georgia Department of Education. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments.”

Georgia public schools that meet the criteria may be honored in one of four categories in the recognition program — platinum, gold, silver or bronze. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement presents the platinum award to schools that have made AYP for at least three consecutive years, where more than 35 percent of students exceed standards, and are in the 98th percentile of greatest gains.

Some 56.1 percent of students exceeded standards on math on the Georgia High School Graduation Test the past school year while 49.5 percent exceeded standards in English language arts.

“Congratulations to the principals, teachers, parents and students at these schools,” Kathleen Mathers, executive director of the Office of Student Achievement, said in a press release. “This is one way to say ‘great job’ to these school communities that have stayed focused and committed to helping children learn and achieve at high levels.”

The awards are being announced as part of the release of the state’s Annual K-12 Public Schools Report Card.

“The students and staff at these schools are to be commended for this significant achievement,” said State School Superintendent Brad Bryant. “These high levels of achievement and improvement don’t happen unless everyone is focused on the goal of providing a world-class education to every student.”