Robert Cross Middle School named National Blue Ribbon School for second time

ALBANY — A day at Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School begins at 8:30 a.m. with a student-led pledge, a moment of silence and reciting of the Eagles Honor Code.

The code is followed by an “inspiration for the day.” Students then proceed to instructional and exploratory classes. The day ends with announcements given by students. Everything is student-led, Thelma Chunn, the school’s principal said. It’s all about building them up and celebrating their achievements.

“Our students are all leaders in our school,” Chunn said. “Whenever we have any type of activity or event, students … serve as the leaders.”

This emphasis on leadership is just one of the factors that led to the academic magnet school being named a National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Eight schools in the state received this distinction. They are among the 353 schools across the nation so honored.

Chosen schools must demonstrate excellence in academics, school leadership and student achievement as well as a commitment to equity and excellence for all students to be selected for the prestigious award.

The program was established in 1982 to identify and celebrate high-performing schools that have made significant progress in closing achievement gaps. These gaps occur when one group of students — grouped by race, ethnicity, gender, etc. — outperforms another group with statistically significant differences in test scores, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“We’re committed to excellence and equity for all students, regardless of what they look like, where they come from,” Chunn said. “We believe that every student at our school matters. We believe that every moment counts.”

The school is data-driven, she said. Data from Georgia Milestones assessment scores are closely analyzed at the beginning of each school year to inform instruction. Chunn said the information drives every decision made at the school.

“We share that data with teachers to make sure they understand what they’re working with,” the Robert Cross principal said. “Then we know how to provide that intentional remediation and interventions for our students to make sure that they are on track when they take that assessment in the spring.”

The school saw an increase in test scores for the 2022-2023 school year.

Beyond the data, Dougherty County Schools Superintendent Kenneth Dyer said Robert Cross is committed to providing students and faculty with a quality atmosphere. The school has a five-star climate rating, which is calculated through surveys from students, parents and school personnel.

“You may find that someone … who’s so driven to perform academically … sometimes they may suffer in terms of quality and climate,” Dyer said. “Robert Cross does a great job of balancing that.”

The middle school — as well as the Dougherty School System as a whole — prioritizes the emotional wellness of students. Chunn is at the forefront of those efforts, Dyer said.

The school celebrates when its students are successful or simply “do something good,” Chunn said. Students are treated to special events or treats when they do something well, like reading a certain number of books per month for the 25 Book campaign — a yearlong reading program.

This emotional support has especially ramped up since the COVID-19 pandemic. Students are still processing the pandemic and transitioning back into “normal” school life. It’s a journey, Chunn said, and the school is working to move forward and provide for its students however it can.

“We can pour into them, and we can help them understand the importance of letting us know when something’s wrong, when they have questions about what happened with COVID-19,” she said. “We take that time to talk with them and listen to them.”

Teaching and academics are very important, but meeting the social and emotional needs of students is more important, Chunn said.

Receiving the Blue Ribbon award is an accomplishment for not only the school but for the district and the Albany community as a whole, Chunn said. In many ways, the Blue Ribbon shows that Robert Cross is beating the odds in a school district where test score proficiency falls below 40% and many students come from low-income backgrounds, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Dyer said he was ecstatic but not surprised when he found out about the distinction.

“The whole world knows what we’ve known for a while: Robert Cross is one of the best schools in the country,” Dyer said. “We’re gonna continue to support them as well as other schools to maximize the potential of all students.”

By Lucille Lannigan
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