Newton posts great gains in student achievement, wins award

Written by Mary Ann Key, Staff Writer

Newton High School is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Single Statewide Accountability System award (SSAS); this honor is given to schools that show great gains in student achievement.

On December 15, the governor’s Office of Student Achievement notified Principal Dr. Roderick Sams that Newton was one of four high schools in Georgia to receive the bronze award for the 2008-2009 school year.

“We obtained this grant because Newton improved in all categories on the Georgia Graduation Test, which is taken in a student’s junior year of high school, Sams said. “As far as I know, this is the first year we achieved this prize.”

To receive such an award, a school must not have a needs-improvement status, 20 percent of the students exceed standards, and be in the 95 percentile of greatest gain in student achievement.

Sams said he was surprised when he got the letter from the governor’s office. He knew Newton had made significant improvement, but he did not know the school had changed so drastically.

“I’m very proud of all our students and teachers for their hard work and dedication this past year,” Sams said. “They have really stepped up their efforts to make Newton a better to go to school.”

According to gaosa.org, achieving this level of success takes collaborative effort of teachers, principals and parents working with students.

However, the governor’s Office of Student Achievement has higher rewards than the bronze. There are other honors, such as platinum, gold, and silver prizes, state and national grants, and the most privileged grant, Georgia’s School of Excellence.

“We can absolutely achieve higher than the bronze prize,” Sams said. “I believe if we keep traveling down the same path we are on, we will be able to receive national awards.”

To receive a higher grant, Newton will need to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status for two consecutive years, have at least 25 percent of students exceed the statewide standards, and be in the 96 percentile of greatest gain in percentage of students meeting and exceeding.

Sams said he is very confident Newton will be able to exceed these standards, and knows that the school is capable of great achievement.

“We will continue to improve,” Sams said. “Newton is well on its way to making AYP, and we have a great deal of positive things going on in our school. I am looking forward to success, the sky is the limit.”