The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has recognized Banks County Middle School as a Literacy Leader, celebrating the school’s significant growth in the percentage of sixth-grade students reading at or above grade level. This recognition reflects Banks County Middle School's commitment to developing essential reading skills that empower students for success, reinforcing the system’s motto this year: Expectations Influence Success.
Principal Lisa Saxon shared her excitement about the honor.
"I am incredibly proud of our team. Our students want to be at school every day, our teachers are enthusiastic about teaching, and our students are excited about learning."
324 Georgia schools were recognized for achievement or growth in the percentage of students reading at or above grade level. The criteria for the Literacy Leader awards recognize the crucial importance of grade-level reading in third and sixth grades and require higher growth from schools with lower achievement levels.
“I am so proud to announce this year’s Literacy Leader schools,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These schools are moving the needle on literacy in our state – and, as a result, changing the lives of the students they serve. The ability to read opens the doors to lifelong learning – that’s why we remain laser-focused on literacy at the Georgia Department of Education and as a state. I am honored to recognize these schools, educators, students, families, and communities for their outstanding work.”
Throughout the fall, Superintendent Woods will visit schools identified as Literacy Leaders to recognize and congratulate them.
Literacy Leader qualifications use the Georgia Milestones Reading Status indicator, which is based on the Lexile score associated with students’ performance on a subset of questions on the ELA assessment. In addition. The 2023-24 Georgia Milestones assessment scores showed some positive indicators in the area of early literacy, with the percentage of students scoring Proficient & Above increasing more for fifth-grade ELA than any other assessment. Additionally, Georgia students’ ACT and SAT scores were higher on the reading and writing assessments than any other subject area.