Jack P. Nix named Title 1 Distinguished School
by Denise Etheridge
White County News
The White County School System is celebrating academic success this week, for a strong graduation rate and an honor bestowed on one of its elementary schools.
WCSS administrators announced in a press release on Monday, that the system has a four-year graduation rate of 95.82%.
Superintendent Laurie Burkett emphasized that a graduation rate is the culmination of a process that begins “the moment” students begin their public education.
“This achievement is a reflection of every school in our system and the support of our entire community,” Burkett said. “From the earliest years, our teachers, staff, and families have worked together to prepare students for success.”
During a Board of Education meeting last week, White County High School principal Mary Anne Collier told school board members that, “Graduation is our goal.” She compared the high school’s 2024 graduation rate of 92.9% to the state’s 85.4 percent the same year.
Jack P. Nix Elementary takes a bow
Jack P. Nix Elementary School was applauded at last week’s board meeting when Burkett announced that the school was named a Georgia Title I Distinguished School.
“I am extremely proud of Jack P. Nix Elementary School and its students for achieving this award,” Burkett said. “This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of our teachers, staff, students, and families. It’s a testament to the strong foundation we build here at Jack P Nix.”
The recognition places Jack P. Nix among the top 5% of Georgia’s Title I schools for overall performance, based on combined English Language Arts and math scores from the fiscal 2024 school year, according to Shaun Owen, Deputy Superintendent of the Office of Federal Programs with the Georgia Department of Education.
The federal government provides public school systems with Title 1, Part A funds to support educators’ efforts in helping low income students become successful learners.
Public feedback turned into action
In other school board business, Burkett briefed board members on initiatives spurred by a Comprehensive Needs Assessment held with parents and community stakeholders last April.
Burkett said 75 people attended the session and offered school administrators feedback.
“It was a time for us to listen,” Burkett said.
Burkett said the school system has implemented some of the recommendations citizens made during the assessment, such as improved communication with parents and focusing on attendance at all grade levels.
Collier said that the high school has put some of the assessment feedback into practice, such as striving to improve attendance.
Collier said WCHS has tried to make it easier for parents to send in excuses for absences, such as offering them QR codes on a fridge magnet giving them a simple way to connect. Attendance Support Teams also send teachers a three-day letter when a student has missed that amount of school and the teacher then contacts the parents, Collier explained.
Students with perfect attendance are eligible for awards and teachers with perfect attendance might be rewarded with a “yellow traffic cone” allowing them to park wherever they prefer.