SCHOOLS
4 | July 23, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
15 Fulton schools among lowest-performing in Ga. 2015 Priority and Focus schools point to schools which need additional support BY CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County School System had 15 of its 103 schools place among the lowest performing schools in the state, pointing to a need for additional support, according to officials with the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE). The majority of the schools on the list for 2015 were in South Fulton, with only one – Esther Jackson Elementary in Roswell – located in North Fulton. Matt Cardoza, spokesman for the GDOE said low performing schools are divided into two categories: Priority Schools, which are among the lowest 5 percent of all Title 1 schools, and Focus Schools which are among the lowest
10 percent of all Title 1 schools. The criteria are based on academic achievement, which is the size of the gap between WOODS the school’s bottom 25 percent of students and the state average. Progress is measured by how much the gap closes from year to year, noted Cardoza. Title 1 schools are those schools that receive additional federal funding as a result of high poverty rates. Designating Priority and Focus schools is required under federal mandate as part of Georgia’s waiver from the No Child Left Behind law. “Identifying Priority and
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ALPHARETTA: 1445 Hillcrest Heights 30005. Friday 7/24, Saturday 7/25, 8am-4pm. Adult/baby clothes. Small Appliances. Home Decor’. Sports Accessories. ALPHARETTA: 405 St. Regis Drive 30022. Friday 7/24 and Saturday 7/25, 8am-3:30pm. Two families. Clothing, household.... ALPHARETTA/MILTON: Multi-family. 825 Hopewell Place Drive. Friday 7/24, Saturday 7/25, 8am-2pm. Household/ office, kids/mens’ XXLT JOHNS CREEK: Foxworth Subdivision, 3865 Redcoat Way 30022, Friday 7/24 and Saturday 7/25, 7am-3pm. Something for everyone! MILTON: White Columns (Golf Section) off Freemanville Road. 920 Treyburn Run, 30004. Friday 7/24, Saturday 7/25, 8am-1pm. Several antiques, couch, wing-back chair, ottoman, etc ROSWELL: Saddle Creek Subdivision, 305 Saddle Creek Drive 30076. Friday 7/24, Saturday 7/25, 8am-2pm. Tools, tiller, Honda mower, camping, fishing, hunting, clothes, kitchen, baby, more! ROSWELL: Multi-family. 11985 Wildwood Springs Drive. Friday 7/24, Saturday 7/25 9am-2pm ROSWELL: Upscale garage sale-you have to see it to believe it! A gigantic, church-wide garage sale at Roswell United Methodist Church will be held on Thursday, July 23 (a $10 donation gets you into this Early Bird Sale, 4-7 p.m.); Friday, July 24, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; and Saturday, July 25, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thousands of items will be available at the garage sale, to be held indoors in the church’s fellowship hall area. Items will include furniture, books, collectibles, art and frames, jewelry, household items, sporting equipment, seasonal items, linens, craft items, baskets, vases, outdoor furniture, children’s toys and clothes, and adult clothes. Credit cards (add $2 fee) and cash accepted. Bring your friends and neighbors for this incredible garage sale! Proceeds benefit RUMC’s Job Networking Ministry. The church is located at 814 Mimosa Blvd. in Roswell’s historic district. Information: www.rumc.com/garagesale
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Focus schools allows us to offer targeted assistance where it is needed most,” said Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods. “The GDOE will work with the schools identified to ensure they have the resources they need to provide a quality education for their students.” Repeated requests for comment from Fulton School officials on any plans to additionally support its 15 lowest performing schools were not answered. However, Cardoza noted all Priority and Focus schools can receive additional support made available through the GDOE. “GDOE provides school and district effectiveness specialists to support [Priority and Focus] schools through federal funding that comes through GDOE,” said Cardoza. “Priority and Focus schools will also receive additional federal funds and professional learning.” Fulton ranks in the middle of the pack among metro school systems with 15 total Priority and Focus schools. Atlanta with 37 schools and DeKalb with 29 schools on either list led the region, followed by Gwinnett Schools (3), Cobb Schools (4), Cherokee Schools (2) and Forsyth Schools with no schools labeled as Priority or Focus. In total, Georgia has 81 Priority schools and 165 schools designated as Focus Schools in 2015 out of approximately 2,300 public schools. This designation may become very sig-
The GDOE will work with the schools identified to ensure they have the resources they need to provide a quality education for their students.” RICHARD WOODS Georgia School Superintendent nificant if state voters approve a constitutional amendment in the 2016 general election to create an Opportunity School District (OSD). If approved, up to 100 of the lowest performing schools in the state could become part of the OSD and operated under state control apart from its home district. Priority and Focus schools will be one way of measuring low performance. “As for OSD schools, they are very closely aligned to the Priority and Focus schools but not exactly,” explained Cardoza. “Priority and Focus schools are only Title I schools, as required by the federal government.”
Northeast Spruill Oaks library hosts singalong and vegan workshop JOHNS CREEK, Ga. - Northeast Spruill Oaks Library will host a singalong and cooking program. Guitarist and storyteller Alina Celeste’s singalong program will be July 29 at 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Children ages 3 to 9 are welcome. Also on July 29 at 4 p.m. a cooking workshop will teach students simple healthy recipes. Kindergarteners through fifth-graders are welcome. Northeast Spruill Oaks is at 9560 Spruill Road. For information call 770-360-8820. –Hillary Hunnings