Fulton County Schools Honored as Math Leaders by the Georgia Department of Education

Fulton County Schools (FCS) proudly announces that thirty of its schools have been recognized as Math Leader schools by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). This recognition places FCS among the top districts in Georgia for excellence in mathematics education, ranking third after Gwinnett and Cobb counties. The Math Leaders Award, introduced for the first time this year, highlights schools that have demonstrated outstanding achievement or significant growth in math, with a particular focus on numeracy skills in fifth and eighth grades.

The GaDOE's criteria for this award included higher growth requirements for schools with lower initial achievement levels, ensuring recognition for meaningful progress across all learning environments. At the high school level, Math Leader status was determined by performance on the Algebra: Concepts and Connections End-of-Course (EOC) assessment.

“Mathematics is vital for our students’ success, both academically and in their future careers,” said Board President Kimberly Dove. “To have thirty of our schools honored reflects the dedication and effort put forth by our educators and students. This is an achievement we can all celebrate.”

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney added, “We are incredibly proud of our teachers and students for this recognition. It is a testament to the focused work happening in classrooms every day, and we will continue to build on this momentum.”

Strategies Behind the Success:

The achievement of Math Leader status is the result of targeted strategies implemented across FCS:

Professional Training and Resources: In the latter half of the 2022-2023 school year, FCS began an extensive rollout of professional development and support for teachers, which continued over the summer and into the current school year. This included the introduction of FCS Learning Plans that offered structured pacing and resources, such as district-approved textbooks and GaDOE learning materials.

Enhanced Assessments: Unit assessments were revamped to align more closely with Georgia’s K-12 Standards and the FCS Learning Plans, ensuring that students were tested on math skills in relevant contexts. This alignment helped prepare students for the Georgia Milestones assessments.

Focus on Tier 1 Instruction: The district reinforced Tier 1 Instruction, encouraging teachers to maintain high standards while fostering a growth mindset. Students became familiar with the online testing tools used in classrooms, which helped ease test-day nerves and improve performance.

Collaborative Professional Learning: Math Coaches led Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), creating spaces where teachers could practice and refine instructional techniques. These sessions emphasized student-centered strategies that allowed for multiple ways to approach math problems.

Consistent Practices and Intervention: Through Communities of Practice (CoPs), teachers gained support in maintaining consistent instructional practices. The Numeracy Project further enriched special education classrooms by equipping teachers with targeted intervention strategies and professional learning provided by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

This recognition by GaDOE is a significant milestone for FCS and highlights the district's commitment to preparing students for long-term success. By focusing on high standards, collaboration, and strategic innovation, FCS is setting a strong example for math education in Georgia.

A full list of schools can be found in this Executive Summary.