Gwinnett ties for major education prize
It’s a tie. Gwinnett County’s school district won national bragging rights Monday afternoon when it and the Orange County school district in central Florida both won a major award for efforts in closing the achievement gap for low-income and minority students.
Both districts were awarded the Broad Foundation Prize for Urban Education, the second time since 2010 that Gwinnett has won the award. Gwinnett and Orange counties were selected as finalists over 75 of the nation’s largest school districts.
Gwinnett officials celebrated at a watch party at the district’s headquarters in Suwanee. Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks and school board members were at the award ceremony in New York City where the announcement was made by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Gwinnett, Georgia’s largest school district, was cited for, among other things, increases in average SAT scores among African-American students. A jury of prominent people from business, industry, education and public service selected the winners.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
