Douglas Grassroots Meeting Seeks To Improve Kids' College Outlook

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Citizens for Excellence in Public Schools, a grassroots education group formed in 2016, is inviting the public to a meeting which aims to improve school quality and post graduation success of Douglas County high school graduates. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., at Grace Presbyterian Church on 5000 Stewart Mill Rd.

"Citizens for Excellence in Public Schools is a grassroots education advocacy group that aims to improve school quality by strengthening local accountability and encouraging civic engagement with the school system, for the purpose of our children's long-term flourishing," said Jeremy Noonan, president and founder of the group. Noonan, a former Douglas County High School teacher, said, as a teacher, he "witnessed firsthand how school was cutting corners to get more students to graduate."

"We will achieve [our goals] mainly by providing transparent academic and financial data to the community and by promoting true excellence in our schools," Noonan said. "Our operations are maintained by a small group of volunteers and supporters. Our direct network, through social media and email, connects with about 350 concerned local citizens. This school year we have invested in research on how Douglas County graduates are faring after graduation, particularly in college."

Some of the group's findings, using data obtained from the University System of Georgia and the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, include:

- 20 percent or less are earning a Bachelor's or Associate's degree within five years of graduation
- Over 20 percent of those who enroll in a public college or university dropout within one year.
- Over 40 percent of those who are rewarded the HOPE scholarship initially lose it within one year.
- These numbers are worse than the state of GA as a whole.

"Believing that the power to solve this problem lies primarily in the local community, we are hosting a community meeting to present these findings, identify the causes and discuss solutions," said Noonan.

Graphics courtesy Citizens for Excellence in Public Schools

The bar and pie graphs are from hsgrad.gosa.ga.gov. The line graph was made with data from this site by Citizens for Excellence in Public Schools.

Photo via Shutterstock