The Georgia Department of Education released a list of the state's 78 lowest performing public schools Tuesday as part of its still-developing accountability system.
The schools, which include 14 in the Atlanta Public Schools, 10 in DeKalb County, three in Gwinnett County and one each in Cobb and Fulton counties, have been designated as "priority" schools because they have fared the poorest in terms of graduation rates and test scores.
Schools will carry the priority designation for three years and will be offered state assistance for the duration of that time period. They will be able to have the designation removed early, but the department has not yet finalized the targets schools will have to hit to get off the list.
Priority schools is one of three new designations that will be used in Georgia and other states that requested and were granted a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind school accountability system.
The new designations -- priority schools, focus schools and reward schools -- replace the "needs improvement" label school officials described as unclear and unhelpful. The reward designation goes to high-achieving schools.
In its application for a waiver from NCLB mandates, Georgia promised that it would offer a fourth designation, "alert schools," so the state could focus on struggling schools that do not have a high percentage of low-income students. The other three designations all focus on so-called "Title I" schools that do have a high percentage of low-income students.
Despite having 10 schools on the priority list, DeKalb school officials embraced the new designation system. "We see them as necessary and helpful," said Walter Woods, chief communications officer for DeKalb schools.
Woods said many of the schools in DeKalb that were pegged as priority schools have taken on difficult challenges such as teaching students who are new to the area.
"We have a large, diverse county, and we have to serve all of the students in this district," Woods said. "There will be extra help provided to these schools."
The state Department of Education is still setting up the accountability system it will use instead of the one mandated by NCLB. It won't have focus or alert designations until this spring, and it won't have reward designations ready until this fall.
Districts with priority schools must submit an effectiveness plan to the state identifying areas of need. The state will then designate a specialist to monitor the implementation of that plan.
State officials also will meet with district officials, review data and go over specific areas of need. Professional learning and support will be provided.
APS said it will continue offering its own assistance to schools that are struggling.
"APS has traditionally allocated additional resources in terms of targeted instruction and curriculum to improve the academic performance of this category of schools, and that emphasis continues under the current administration," said Keith Bromery, the district's director of media relations.
"APS schools on the list represent two alternative schools, schools receiving school improvement grants and several small high schools," he said. "While no traditional APS elementary or middle schools made the list, the district continues to work across all schools to improve student performance."
Joann Davis, parent of a ninth-grader at Towers High in DeKalb, said she was unaware of the new designations but has seen steady improvement at her child's school.
"Right now, I try to keep track of my child and his friends," she said. "As long as they are going to bring the schools up to standards and comparable to Northern schools, I'll be fine."
Staff writers Ernie Suggs and Ty Tagami contributed to this article.
Priority schools
Here are the metro area schools on the "priority" list and the reasons they are included. School improvement grants are a federal program for struggling schools.
Atlanta Public Schools
- South Atlanta School of Health and Medicine (achievement)
- Booker T. Washington High School -- Banking, Finance & Investment (achievement)
- Booker T. Washington High School -- Health, Sciences and Nutrition (achievement)
- Maynard H. Jackson High School (achievement)
- Hillside Conant School (achievement)
- School of Technology at Carver (achievement)
- Forrest Hills Academy (achievement)
- School of Health Sciences and Research at Carver (achievement)
- South Atlanta School of Computer Animation and Design (achievement)
- Therrell School of Law, Government and Public Policy (school improvement grant)
- Therrell School of Engineering, Math and Science (achievement)
- Therrell School of Health and Science (achievement)
- Crim High School (school improvement grant)
- Douglass High School (school improvement grant)
Cobb County
- Devereux Ackerman Academy (achievement)
DeKalb County
- DeKalb Transition School (achievement)
- DeKalb Alternative School (achievement)
- Elizabeth Andrews High School (graduation rate)
- International Student Center (achievement)
- Indian Creek Elementary School (achievement)
- Toney Elementary School (achievement)
- McNair High School (school improvement grant)
- Clarkston High School (school improvement grant)
- Towers High School (school improvement grant)
- DeKalb/Rockdale PsychoEducation Center (achievement)
Douglas County
- Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School (school improvement grant)
- Inner Harbour School (achievement)
Fulton County
- McClarin Alternative School (graduation rate)
Gwinnett County
- Gwinnett InterVention Education Center East (achievement)
- Gwinnett InterVention Education Center West (achievement)
- Meadowcreek High School (achievement)
Henry County
- Henry County High School (school improvement grant)
Paulding County
- Paulding County High School (school improvement grant)
Source: Georgia Department of Education
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