Twiggs Co. Middle School recognized by state DOE for reading proficiency

Twiggs County Middle-High School was recognized by the Georgia Department of Education for improved reading assessment scores Monday. State Superintendent Richard Woods traveled down to Jeffersonville to present the school with a banner. 

Students in seventh and ninth grade gathered for an assembly to celebrate their achievements from the year prior. 

“Each and every one of you played a vital role in reaching this milestone, especially our seventh and our ninth graders,” said Twiggs County Middle-High School Principal Rise’ Jenkins. “Whether you read the extra chapter, wrote an additional essay or participated in the classroom discussions, you showed up, and you showed us that you are Cobras who are always ready to rise to the challenge.”

The “Literacy Leader” awards were established during the 2022-2023 academic year to recognize third grade classes that obtained exceptional achievement or growth based on the Georgia Milestones assessments. 

Georgia’s program this year highlights the importance of achieving appropriate literacy levels by third and sixth grades. This year, all grade levels from third to twelfth are eligible to receive accolades, but only if third or sixth grade also qualifies for an award. 

Studies have long found that there is a strong relationship between reading proficiency in third grade and life outcomes — one report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that one in six children who are not reading proficiently by third grade do not graduate from high school on time, a rate four times greater than that of proficient readers. Sixth grade is a new addition to the Literacy Leaders program this year. 

Woods described third grade as the “gatekeeper” for elementary school and sixth as the gatekeeper for middle school when it comes to literacy. If students haven’t reached the proficient reading levels for their grade by the end of that year, it will be difficult to progress educationally. 

Of the approximately 2,300 schools in Georgia, Woods said in his remarks, only around 10% are awarded a banner. 

“This is something to be very, very proud of as a school,” Woods said.

The current seventh grade class at Twiggs Middle-High went from 35% of students at reading proficiency in fifth grade to 56% in sixth grade. This qualified them for the Gateway Growth award, which requires that schools with fewer than 50% of students reading at or above grade level achieve at least a 15 point increase. 

Current ninth graders also qualified for an additional growth award, but specific numbers were not mentioned in Woods’ remarks. 

Other awards were given to schools that had 90% or more students reading at-or-above grade level. 

“It is important to ask ourselves, what will we do continuously and collectively as students, staff and educators to keep this academic movement going,” Jenkins said. “Students, I personally extend a challenge to you: Bet on yourself, compete with yourself, and put you as the leader of your destiny each and every time.”