Georgia Department of Education releases first School Climate Star Ratings

ALBANY — The Georgia Department of Education has released its first School Climate Star Ratings. The 2014 ratings are based on survey results and data from the 2013-2014 school year. The results were a mixed bag for Dougherty County’s 23 schools.

Each school in Georgia received a 1-5 star rating, with five stars representing an excellent school climate, and one star representing a school climate most in need of improvement. School Climate Star Ratings are an informational tool for schools, administrators, and parents; they do not affect the school’s College & Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score.

The DCSS had three 5-star rated schools: Robert Cross Middle, Jackson Heights Elementary and West Town Elementary. The district had six 4-star schools: Monroe High, Merry Acres Middle, Live Oaks Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, International Studies Elementary and Radium Springs Middle. The district had seven 3-star schools: Westover High, Merry Acres Middle, Radium Springs Middle, Lamar Reese Elementary, Martin Luther King Elementary, Morningside Elementary and Lake Park Elementary. The district had four 2-star schools: Dougherty High, Alice Coachman Elementary, Northside Elementary and Sherwood Acres Elementary. The District had three 1-star schools: Albany High, Southside Middle and Turner Elementary.

School climate refers to the quality and character of school life — the “culture” of a school. A sustainable, positive school climate fosters youth development and student learning, which are essential elements for academic success, career-skill improvement and overall quality of life. The School Climate Star Rating helps determine whether a school is on the right path to school improvement.

“I’d say the ratings were an overall fair assessment,” DCSS Superintendent Butch Mosely said. “However, I also think there are some glaring errors — such as the rating for Albany High. Remember these are ratings from last year, we will see improvement next year.”