Thomas County Central High School (TCCHS) earned the highest score among high schools in Southwest Georgia on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), based on data released by the Georgia Department of Education. The CCRPI Index is regarded as a state report card for schools in Georgia.
Thomasville High School, which encompasses grades 9-12 of Thomasville Scholars Academy, earned a score of 64.2. Cairo High School scored 67.
High schools statewide saw a one-year decrease in scores from 73.0 to 72.0 (-1.0), while (TCCHS) defied the statewide trend to post more than a 10-point gain to reach the highest score among high schools in all divisions in Southwest Georgia.
 TCCHS scored an 83 on the 100-point scale, which is in the top tier of high schools statewide.
Other area scores include:
 • Bainbridge High School — 61
 • Brooks County High School — 69
 • Colquitt County High School — 75
 • Lee County High School — 71
 • Lowndes High School — 74
 • Valdosta High School — 58
The CCRPI is Georgia’s statewide accountability system, implemented in 2012 to replace the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement, after the U.S. Department of Education granted Georgia’s waiver from NCLB. It measures schools and school districts on an easy-to-understand 100-point scale, helping parents and the public better understand how schools are performing in a more comprehensive manner than the pass/fail system previously in place under AYP.
 “Many people have worked hard to make sure the CCRPI provides the most accurate, effective measure possible of the work schools are doing to prepare students for success,” state school Superintendent John Barge said. “This is an index that is both comprehensive and simple to understand, and it is an important component of our efforts to ensure that all students graduate from high school ready for whatever they choose to do, whether that be going to college, joining the military, or immediately beginning a career,” Barge said.
The high school CCRPI score includes a number of factors, including scores on state and national standardized tests, graduation rate and attendance data, among other items.
"The CCRPI score supports our focus on student achievement while the instructional framework in the Thomas County School System continues to prepare all students for success in college and careers," said Melanie Chavaux, associate superintendent and chief academic officer for Thomas County Schools. “The data from the CCRPI Index informs our continuous school improvement process,” she added.
 “I am extremely proud of the performance of our high school during recent years. We have made strong academic gains the last three years, and I couldn’t be prouder of our high school students, faculty and administration for the outstanding work that they are doing to make sure that all of our students are college- or career-ready by the time they graduate from high school,” said Thomas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dusty Kornegay.
According to CCRPI data released in April for the 2012-2013 school year and the recalculated 2011-2012 school year, Thomasville High School's overall score increased 1.6 points from 62.6 to 64.2, said Jo Farrell, Thomasville City Schools director of curriculum and instruction.
“This score includes data from all students enrolled in Thomasville City Schools in grades 9-12. The total achievement points earned was 40.6, three points below the state average. THS earned 16.3 Progress Points, equal to the state average and 6.3 Achievement Gap Points, which was 2.4 points below the state average,” Farrell explained.
The data, she said, showed an increase in U.S. history and economics End of Course Test Scores, writing test scores and increases in four-year and five-year graduation rates.
“We had a slight increase in our Progress Points, which reflects the end-of-course pass rates. The largest gain was an increase in the percent of graduates that earned high school credit in AP, ACCEL and Dual-enrolled students. This number jumped from 36.1 percent to 53.3 percent, contributing to the status of being ranked among the most challenging high schools in America by the Washington Post,” Farrell said.
She added that preliminary 2014 data shows continuous improvement across all content areas and all grade levels in state test results.
“Although our College and Career Readiness Performance Index score is in line with a majority of the schools in our RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) district, we feel we could do better. At a minimum, we want to be at or above the state average of 72,” said Lee Bailey, Grady County school superintendent.
Bailey said that in the upcoming school year, the focus will continue to be on instructional strategies in the classroom to improve End of Course Test Scores (EOCTS).
“Our School Improvement Plan will concentrate on increasing the number of Meets and Exceeds scores on EOCTS. Something we're proud of is our graduation rate,” Bailey said. “The CCRPI report shows our four-year year cohort graduation rate was 76.4, and our five-year cohort rate was 81.9.”
State averages were 71.8 and 71.6, respectively, he added.

Story courtesy of Thomasville-Times Enterprise. Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820. Reporter Susanne Reynolds contributed to this story. www.timesenterprise.com .