Cherokee School District Sees Increase In CCRPI Average

CANTON, GA -- For the sixth consecutive year, the Cherokee County School District has improved its results and exceeded Georgia's average College and Career Ready Performance Index score, which annually rates student academic achievement and progress.

The district's 2016-17 CCRPI average, released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Education, is 81.8, up from 81.6, and tops the satewide average of 75. Scores at all three levels of schools – elementary, middle and high – all surpass state performance; only one district school scores below 70, with a 67 – a decrease from three schools last year, and five schools scored above 90 – an increase from three schools last year.

“We’re so proud of our students, teachers and staff, parents and partners for the incredible dedication required to realize significant gains in achievement and progress,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower said. “Making the needle move in this complicated formula is extremely challenging, especially as such ratings don’t fully reflect the advancements accomplished daily by our most at-risk students and their tireless teachers. We support the State DOE’s plans to further improve the accuracy of this index, as we work together to ‘educate the emerging generation’ for college and career readiness.”

Data used to calculate CCRPI scores, including Georgia Milestones test results and graduation rates, are reviewed by the district and school leaders and data teams upon receipt throughout the year. This immediate responsiveness allows Cherokee County to continuously improve as quickly as possible without waiting for calculation of the CCRPI.

Whenever a negative trend is spotted in this year-round data flow, the superintendent is pre-authorized by the school board to deploy a leadership team to schools experiencing challenges for an operational review resulting in specific recommendations for improvements, the system said.

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