Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - With a new year about to start, Gwinnett County Public Schools officials say they will remain vigilant about improving student achievement.

Publications such as the Georgia Public Policy Foundation's 2009 Report Card for Parents show many Gwinnett schools outperform others throughout the state. But just because a school has high scores doesn't mean the work is done, said Gale Hey, an area superintendent.

"We're not a district that goes, 'OK, well, we're there,'" Hey said. "We focus on continuous improvement. ... The focus will continue to be on rigorous levels of instruction and very high levels of engagement. The more engaged you are, the more you learn and the more you retain."

Eight Gwinnett high schools ranked in the top 20 percent, according to the 2009 report, which used data from the 2007-08 school year. Brookwood was listed at No. 15 out of 353 schools. Parkview, North Gwinnett, Mill Creek, Collins Hill, Dacula, Peachtree Ridge and Grayson ranged from Nos. 32 to 52; additionally, Buford High was ranked No. 46.

The school district also had eight middle schools and several elementary schools ranked among the top 20 percent.

Two schools in the Norcross cluster, Beaver Ridge Elementary and Susan Stripling Elementary, were named "No Excuses" schools. The schools have high levels of poverty, but both ranked in the top quintile, according to the report.

"'No Excuses' is appropriate because the level of income of a child does not directly affect their intellectual ability," Hey said. "They may have had different experiences (than students at wealthier schools) ... but that doesn't mean they can't learn it or can't get it.

"What makes Stripling and Beaver Ridge the schools they are is the level of rigor and student engagement and passion each teacher feels the children," Hey added.

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation's annual Report Card "should be used to open a dialogue between parents, teachers, administrators, elected officials and civic organizations," according to the report's overview.

Hey said it's important for parents to understand all the opportunities that a school can offer, instead of relying on one analysis to make a determination about a school.

"My advice to parents is to always make sure to spend the time getting to know the school," Hey said.

For the complete Report Card, visit http://gppf.org/

pub/edrc2009.htm.

SideBar: REPORT CARD RANKINGS

The following charts list the ranking of Gwinnett and Barrow schools in the Georgia Public Policy Foundation's 2009 Report Card for Parents. The report ranked 1,208 elementary schools based on third-grade test scores, 1,201 elementary schools based on fifth-grade test scores, 501 middle schools based on eighth-grade test scores and 353 high schools based on End of Course Test (EOCT) scores and graduation rates.

Third Grade

School

Rank

Simpson Elementary 11

Head Elementary

37

Brookwood Elementary

55

Suwanee Elementary

57

Camp Creek Elementary

60

Parsons Elementary

68

Duncan Creek Elementary

82

Craig Elementary

83

Fort Daniel Elementary

94

Level Creek 95

Patrick Elementary

97

Mason Elementary

117

Mulberry Elementary

122

Grayson Elementary

128

Walnut Grove Elementary 133

Gwin Oaks Elementary

142

Rock Springs Elementary

144

Riverside Elementary

168

Jackson Elementary

171

Knight Elementary

172

Arcado Elementary

176

New Life Academy of Excellence

178

Freeman's Mill Elementary

191

Mountain Park Elementary

199

Susan Stripling Elementary

200

Ivy Creek Elementary

207

Cooper Elementary

212

B.B. Harris Elementary

239

Taylor Elementary

261

Harmony Elementary

285

McKendree Elementary

290

Harbins Elementary

295

Shiloh Elementary

317

Dyer Elementary

329

Pharr Elementary

330

Bethelem Elementary

333

Sugar Hill Elementary

348

Norton Elementary

362

Alford Elementary

366

Beaver Ridge

367

Buford Academy

382

Auburn Elementary

402

Dacula Elementary

418

Chattahoochee Elementary

449

Sycamore Elementary

473

Berkeley Lake Elementary

504

Peachtree Elementary

507

Simonton Elementary

517

Centerville Elementary

518

Cedar Hill Elementary

539

Annistown Elementary569

Lovin Elementary

576

Magill Elementary

579

Yargo Elementary

598

Minor Elementary

605

Chesney Elementary

634

Holsenbeck Elementary

643

Kanoheda Elementary

648

Norcross Elementary

649

Bramlett Elementary

674

Winn Holt Elementary

690

Alcova Elementary

699

Nesbit Elementary

733

Britt Elementary

739

Benefield Elementary

742

Bethesda Elementary

743

Statham Elementary

747

Hopkins Elementary

748

Partee Elementary

762

Lilburn Elementary

773

Meadowcreek Elementary

778

Rockbridge Elementary

842

Lawrenceville Elementary

850

Corley Elementary

875

Kennedy Elementary

893

County Line Elementary

1,013

Fifth Grade

School

Rank

Suwanee Elementary

20

Simpson Elementary

41

Head Elementary

46

Duncan Creek Elementary

73

Camp Creek Elementary

89

Riverside Elementary

108

Fort Daniel Elementary

120

Taylor Elementary

161

Mulberry Elementary

205

Beaver Ridge Elementary

206

Parsons Elementary

220

Level Creek Elementary

242

Freeman's Mill Elementary

244

Knight Elementary

263

Dyer Elementary

276

Brookwood Elementary

277

Mountain Park Elementary

284

Jackson Elementary

305

Craig Elementary

306

Cooper Elementary

312

Holsenbeck Elementary

322

Walnut Grove Elementary

330

Mason Elementary

333

Gwin Oaks Elementary

340

Grayson Elementary

342

Harmony Elementary

352

Rock Springs Elementary

363

Lovin Elementary

375

Alford Elementary

379

Shiloh Elementary

383

Pharr Elementary

420

Dacula Elementary

443

Statham Elementary

466

Patrick Elementary

474

Norton Elementary

486

Yargo Elementary

493

Arcado Elementary

502

Magill Elementary

507

Kennedy Elementary

529

Peachtree Elementary

530

Chesney Elementary

539

Susan Stripling Elementary

550

Sycamore Elementary

565

Bramlett Elemtnary

580

Buford Academy

581

B.B. Harris Elementary

597

Harbins Elementary

598

Ivy Creek Elementary

601

Bethesda Elementary

608

Britt Elementary

616

Meadowcreek Elementary

630

McKendree Elementary

631

Annistown Elementary

634

Sugar Hill Elementary

635

Chattahoochee Elementary

683

Alcova Elementary

695

Centerville Elementary

710

Partee Elementary

716

Bethelem Elementary

720

Auburn Elementary

725

Kanoheda Elementary

738

Cedar Hill Elementary

743

Winn Holt Elementary

767

Simonton Elementary

780

Berkeley Lake Elementary

797

Benefield Elementary

861

Lawrenceville Elementary

862

Lilburn Elementary

880

Nesbit Elementary

899

Minor Elementary

908

County Line Elementary

922

Hopkins Elementary

964

Norcross Elementary

1,007

Corley Elementary 1,069

Rockbridge Elementary

1,157

Middle School

School

Rank

Crews Middle

23

Osborne Middle

29

Lanier Middle

59

Jones Middle

74

Trickum Middle

75

Five Forks Middle

76

McConnell Middle

90

Hull Middle

95

Haymon-Morris Middle

103

Buford Middle

110

Pinckneyville Middle

119

Creekland Middle

120

Dacula Middle

122

Duluth Middle

168

Snellville Middle

184

Shiloh Middle 210

Richards Middle

229

Russell Middle

296

Winder-Barrow Middle

319

Westside Middle

322

Summerour Middle

353

Radloff Middle

376

Lilburn Middle

382

Sweetwater Middle

411

High School

School

Rank

Brookwood High

15

Parkview High

32

North Gwinnett 35

Mill Creek High

36

Collins Hill High

41

Dacula High

44

Buford High

46

Peachtree Ridge High

51

Grayson High

52

Duluth High

76

Norcross High

87

South Gwinnett 104

Shiloh High

133

Winder-Barrow High

145

Apalachee High

159

Berkmar High

171

Central Gwinnett High

173

Phoenix High

293

Meadowcreek High

313

Source: Georgia Public Policy Foundation's 2009 Report Card for Parents