Eighth-grade math teacher Sandy Cederbaum said it was his students' determination that helped them to be so successful. As a result, State School Superintendent Richard Woods presented a math award to Oglethorpe County Middle School.
“It was self-motivation,” Cederbaum said. “These guys did so well because every day they would come in and they would work.”
Woods visited OCMS to present Georgia Masters of Mathematics honor for math achievement on April 10. Selected students from 2024’s eighth-grade class were the first at OCMS to take and excel in a math course called enhanced algebra eighth-grade math.
The accelerated course is taught by Cederbaum, he said. The course is considered accelerated because it is a high school level class that pushes students through eighth-grade math and ninth-grade algebra simultaneously.
“Taking Mr. Cederbaum’s class allowed us to be a step ahead of the other ninth- graders,” said Lincoln Paradise, now a ninth-grader at Oglethorpe County High School. “So, we will just be more advanced than them and maybe finish our math classes up quicker.”
The award comes with a challenge. There are seven holes at the bottom of the banner where ribbons can be placed each year that display students' success in mathematics. There are three kinds of ribbons that can be awarded: a green ribbon representing growth, a blue ribbon representing proficiency and a white ribbon of distinction.
Growth is measured through passage rates on the Georgia Milestones Assessment.
“From 0 to 49% passage rate, we had to see at least 15 points of growth,” Woods said. “From 50 to 69% we have to see at least 10 points of growth. From 70 to 89, five points of growth, and 90% and above is three points of growth.”
To achieve the blue ribbon of proficiency, students must reach a minimum of 90% passage rate on the Milestones test. To achieve the white ribbon of distinction, a grade must have a passage rate of 98-100%.
Current ninth-graders, who took the course last year, were awarded the blue ribbon of proficiency with a 94.7% passage rate.
In addition to the banner presentation, the event featured a Q&A where students from last year’s program discussed the course and improvements they’d like to see at OCMS.
Students are selected for the course based on MAP testing scores, standardized testing scores and Milestones testing from prior years. An accumulation of scores allows for the top students to be chosen as the eighth graders who will take the class.
Students who were in the class said they recognized the course’s fast pace.
“It definitely was challenging, but we were really prepared for the two tests that we had to take at the end of the year,” said Jonah Forberg, a ninth grader at OCHS. “It definitely made a big difference in the class we are taking now.”
Students also expressed their desire for additional funding to school courses, such as the coding and the art programs.
Additionally, students raised attention to the number of AP classes available, saying there are not enough options.
Woods addressed the concerns after their panel concluded.
“Everything we do is about you,” he said. “We want to make sure that we give you every opportunity. As you mentioned, things such as AP classes and things of this nature, one of the challenges when you are in a small district is how much you can offer because that means we’ve got to figure out how (you are) going to find a teacher. … But I appreciate the feedback. I will take that back and have some discussions.”