The Oglethorpe County School System is among 44 districts in Georgia, out of 194 total, to record a graduation rate above 95%.
“We were able to recognize all our schools today because this is not just a high school thing — yes the kids, that’s their final year — but it starts in our pre-K,” Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine said at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. “We were very pleased with that.”
The graduation rate for the class of 2024, which is 95.5%, is slightly lower than last year’s 95.8%, but much higher than the state average of 85.4%.
Within the northeast region, Oglethorpe County ranked fourth, below Oconee County, Jefferson City and Jackson County, but above Commerce City and Madison County.
Oglethorpe County also had a higher percentage of students score as a developing learner or higher in each math milestone than the state average, except for Algebra I.
“That’s going to be a target area,” assistant superintendent Kanya Cornish said. “We know Algebra I is also an indicator for success, so we need to work on that and we have a plan for that.”
The county also ranked second within the Northeast RESA in their third- and eighth-grade math milestone scores with 94.6% and 95.5% of students scoring as a developing learner or higher, respectively.
“This is amazing,” Cornish said. “This brings joy to our hearts to see for sure.”
The board also recognized teachers of the year at the meeting.
First-grade teacher Adriane Echols was recognized at the primary school. She’s been at OCPS for the past eight years, but has 19 years of teaching experience.
Principal Katie Baldwin praised Echols’ adaptability, level-headedness and connections with students.
“She sees them (her students) for who they are and loves them as they are, without trying to change them or make them into what we want them to be,” Baldwin said.
Leanne Carter, a 2008 OCHS graduate, was named the elementary school teacher of the year. The third-grade teacher, who has 11 years of experience, was applauded by Baldwin for being “dedicated to pushing her students to be the best.”
The Oglethorpe County Middle School teacher of the year is Jill Barnes, who was recognized as being a “strong advocate” for her English language learning students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Barnes has taught at OCMS for 17 of her 21 years in education.
Erin Bunch, another OCHS graduate, was named the high school teacher of the year. Principal Bill Sampson said she was an instrumental part of the health care science program during her 10 years there.
“Not only does she provide students with an opportunity to get a solid background in the health care field, but we also ended up with one of the most positive and dedicated teachers that we could ask for,” Sampson said.