Cobb Reporter

The Georgia Department of Education has announced that 44 schools in Cobb County have been recognized as state math leaders. This recognition comes after the State Superintendent acknowledged Cobb schools for their literacy achievements.

The Math Leader Awards are given to schools demonstrating exceptional achievement or growth in mathematics, particularly those with students scoring at the Proficient Learner level or above. The criteria emphasize numeracy skills in fifth and eighth grades, requiring more significant growth from schools with lower initial achievement levels.

Awards were distributed across elementary, middle, and high school levels based on performance in the Algebra: Concepts and Connections End-of-Course (EOC) test for high school students.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods stated, "Congratulations to our first-ever Math Leader schools! The skill of numeracy is an essential one, both as students progress through their K-12 education and in their futures. These schools and their educators, students, families, and communities have worked hard to implement the new K-12 Mathematics Standards and prepare all students for life. I commend them on their outstanding work."

Superintendent Woods plans to visit these Math Leader schools throughout the fall to offer personal congratulations.

Dr. April Aldridge, GaDOE Deputy Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, remarked on this opportunity: "What a great opportunity to celebrate and recognize the outstanding accomplishments of students and educators in the state of Georgia. Georgia’s new K-12 Mathematics Standards have been implemented with intentionality and a commitment to expand opportunities for students. We applaud the hard work that has resulted in the accomplishments recognized by the Math Leader designation."

Math Leader qualifications are determined by student performance on Georgia Milestones mathematics assessments. Cobb County's results indicated strong leadership among metro peers.

The 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones assessments reflected success following the adoption of new K-12 Mathematics Standards in 2021. Notable improvements included eight-point increases in eighth-grade math scores and high-school Algebra scores.

Among those recognized were Addison Elementary School for third-grade growth; Allatoona High School for high school growth; Awtrey Middle School for high school achievement; Bells Ferry Elementary School for fifth-grade gateway growth; Betty Gray Middle School for outstanding high school achievement; Bullard Elementary School also showed significant fifth-grade gateway growth along with several other institutions listed as achieving notable improvements across various grade levels.