The list of honors awarded the Wadsworth Magnet School is extensive: top scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, a College and Career Ready Performance Index score that exceeds BLANK, ranking in the top one percent of schools in the state, Blue Ribbon School of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education, being named a National Beta School of Distinction. But despite the accolades compiled by fourth, fifth and sixth graders, Principal Cornellia Crum says the DeKalb County school is a well-kept secret.
“There are parents in DeKalb who don’t know who we are,” said Crum, who has been at the helm of the magnet school since it launched in 2008. “We’re constantly working to get the word out.”
The commitment that goes into achieving those honors may, in fact, be one of the reasons that the school has a hard time attracting students, said Crum.
“This is a very tough program — we acknowledge that,” she said. “There’s a lot of rigor in the program. Students are taking advanced classes, and we concentrate on science, technology, engineering and math because those are the lead jobs of tomorrow. They all take Spanish and they’re all in band or strings. We have enrichment programs until 6:30 p.m. every day. The product exceeds expectations: The students who leave here are successful and go onto college.”
This year’s enrollment is just 199, and there’s room for a total of 400. Of those currently enrolled, 70 percent have been identified as gifted, and all of the 23 teachers are certified to teach gifted classes. Students must maintain a B average to remain in the program.
“Our expectations are very high,” said Crum. “Students are given the support they need to be successful, but they’re also taught to take responsibility for their individual learning. Once you teach students to take ownership of their studies, they do a much better.”
Study is researched based, with students pursing interests across all areas of study. And their work is usually rewarded with county and state honors.
“We participate in Science Olympiad as well as county science and social studies fairs, and Wadsworth is usually the winner,” said Crum. “We’ve won state awards. The whole premise of what we’re doing is to teach these students skills to solve real-world problems to prepare them to become leaders of tomorrow.”
Crum also credits strong relationships as a leading factor in the school’s success. Close connections between students and teachers and collaborative support between staff and parents are at the heart of the school’s mission.
“We have a very active PTA and a dads’ group that’s building raised beds for our garden and is coaching our soccer club,” said Crum. “Our winter concert for band and strings has to be held in the Southwest DeKalb High auditorium because we’ll get anywhere from 600 to 700 parents and family members to attend.”
Getting students to enroll in the school is another matter, said Gloria Jones, Wadsworth’s assistant principal of instruction. “There’s no one thing that causes enrollment to not be as high as it should. First, it’s not an easy process. Students have to do an application, take their chances in a lottery and hope there’s availability. But once they’re here, they don’t want to leave. Parents have requested a seventh grade, but it’s been an ongoing fight.”
Another factor is the school’s location on the county’s South side. “Transportation can be an issue,” said Jones.
For the students who do find their way to Wadsworth, it’s worth the journey, said Crum. “But there’s no question – we are on the road less traveled.”
Information about Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers: wadsworthes.dekalb.k12.ga.us/
DeKalb County Schools are hosting two more sites for School Choice Expo 2016: www.dekalbschoolsga.org/event/school-choice-expo-2016/
