Three Carroll County School District schools received recognition from the state Tuesday for being among the schools achieving the highest performance or the biggest academic gains statewide for Title 1 schools in the last three years.

Ithica Elementary School and Roopville Elementary School made the highest-performing school list; while Bay Springs Middle School made the high-progress list.

“These schools are shining examples of what we can achieve in public education in Georgia,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge in a release. “I want to take what’s working at our Reward Schools and replicate that in every school in the state. These are the schools making education work for all Georgians.”

A highest-performing school is a Title I school among the five percent of Title I schools in the state that has the highest absolute performance over three years on statewide assessments and must have made Adequate Yearly Progress in 2012. A high-progress school is a Title I school among the 10 percent of Title I schools in the statethat are making the most progress in improving student performance over three years on statewide assessments.

“These schools are models for the entire state on how to engage families and make parents feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door,” said Barge. “We must find more ways to get parents involved in the education of their children, whether it’s online or in person.”

“I am so proud of our staff and community for the accomplishment of earning a place on the Highest Performing Schools list again,” Mrs. Cherri LeBlanc, Principal at Roopville Elementary, said. “The hard work and determination of this incredible staff and student body along with the tremendous support of this community have played a role in earning this kind of recognition. It is indeed an honor.”

Superintendent Scott Cowart pointed out that this recognition validates the work being done in Carroll County Schools to improve student achievement. “We are definitely making strides and continuing to improve what we are doing for students. Our teachers and administrators are to be commended for their hard work, dedication and willingness to continually improve. We are improving parental involvement, student engagement and most importantly student achievement. This type of improvement is a team effort, it takes everyone working together to ensure we are meeting the needs of students.”