Coastal Empire schools honored for academic achievements
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — Education in the Coastal Empire is getting some well-deserved recognition this morning. Local students have been working hard, and it's paying off as Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods is making a special visit to celebrate their achievements.
19 schools in the area will receive a recognition highlighting their student's hard achievements in literacy or math.
Starting at 10 a.m. this morning the superintendent will travel to Savannah Chatham County to honor these selected schools for their achievements. Selected schools will receive 'leader banners' for outstanding growth and performance in reading and mathematics.Awards are based on key milestones, such as third and sixth-grade reading levels, and fifth and eighth-grade math proficiency.
Five schools will receive both literary and math banners, they include the schools listed below:
Coastal Middle School
Ellis Elementary School
Ester F. Garrison School of the Arts
Islands High School
Savannah Classical Academy Charter
In the image below: the schools highlighted in gray will receive a Math Leader Banner. The schools not highlighted (in White) will receive a Literacy Leader Banner. The schools listed in green will receive both
Last year data showed 43% of third graders in Savannah-Chatham schools weren't reading at grade level. This placed students behind their peers statewide by about 10%.
This year – the goal continues to improve that.
WSAV attended the banner ceremony.
The State Superintendent shares he intends to keep coming back to Savannah-Chatham and have pinning ceremonies and add ribbons to the bottom of banner awards. The ribbon tied to the bottom of a banner signifies an additional achievement. There are two types of ribbons: growth and proficiency.
'For me, these are academic state championship banners, similar to a sports trophy,' Woods said. 'We want to see ribbons and banners throughout schools here.'
One school received a ribbon Monday, New Hampstead. Other notes are that Coastal Middle School saw every grade represented for literacy improvement – a feat that Woods said is a big accomplishment.
Island High School also shined bright on Monday. They received both literacy and math banners. Woods shared only 49 high schools across the state of Georgia received a distinction for literary banner, Island High being one of them.
'Island High may be the first high school I have given both banners out,' celebrated Woods.
Although there is more to look forward to. Superintendent Richard Woods will add the John Hancock Banner as another for schools to achieve this year. If 90% of third graders can write their name in cursive, the school will receive the John Hancock Banner. 'This highlights the importance that every student at a minimum needs to own their signature,' said Woods.
As an extra bonus, if the third graders can write the preamble to the constitution, they will get a ribbon of distinction to the John Hancock Banner.
Woods points out that this banner is new, so middle or high schools are also welcome to participate.
Aside from literacy and math, the state will look at adding a science or social studies banner too. 'Once you get a literacy banner – it will open up to receiving a social studies banner,' said Woods.
Perhaps the newest surprise was a graduation banner being added to the list of achievements schools can aim to strive for. 'I haven't shared this with my staff yet… we will be adding a high school graduation banner,' shared Woods. The high school graduation banner will look at growth, proficiency rates, ACT scores, and SAT scores.
WSAV spoke to SCCPSS Board President, Roger Moss. He shared he is pleased with the banners handed out. Around 25 were presented on Monday morning. 'We may need a truck next year to arrive with banners for the number of awards (we expect),' said Moss. His goal is to double the number of principals that were in the room this year.
When asked if Savannah-Chatham is headed in the right direction, Woods said, 'Absolutely, I think so.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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