​​Fulton Schools Excel at 2025 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Competition​

Cambridge High School

Cell phones, iPads, Bluetooth headphones, and TikTok are almost unbeatable in a popularity contest with a book. One would think that a form of entertainment that has existed for centuries wouldn’t stand a chance. At the 2025 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, however, hundreds of students proved that the passion for reading still exists.

Picture it. It’s January 25. The tension in the air is thick with anxiety. There is a flurry of activity as volunteers scurry to make final preparations. Parents are in place. Teams of students, dressed in team spirit, are sharpening their memories for a battle of the minds. The atmosphere is nothing short of electrifying, according to Fulton County Schools media specialist Sadeqwa Simmons.

“It was exciting,” said Simmons beamingly. "The kids were eager. It was really electric. You walk in and you smile. You see these kids who are ready to compete, and you smile.”

Teams of up to ten students from 63 Fulton County schools participated, with the help of mentors who included media specialists to literacy coaches and teachers who are excited about reading. Only five students from each team were allowed to compete in four rounds, each consisting of 15 questions taken from a list of award-nominated books. Many students began reading in March of last year and continued through the summer. Last fall participating schools began forming their teams and testing their recollection of the material they had read.

“They put in a lot of work,” Simmons remarked. "It’s not your average quiz bowl.”

Cambridge and Global Impact Academy high schools came in first and second places respectively at the district level, and advanced to regionals. River Trace Middle School placed second and moved on as well. Barnwell and Ocee elementary schools earned spots in a head-to-head tiebreaker for second place. Ocee Elementary emerged victorious, joining the other district-level winners at the regional competition on February 8 at Clayton State University. Both Cambridge High and Ocee elementary schools earned second place at the regional level, but they couldn’t advance to the state level without a first-place win. In this competition though, the meaning of winning isn’t the only reward.

“It goes back to reading” Simmons said. “It goes back to building and cultivating the reading culture within our schools. I think that it is extremely important to keep on building lifelong readers. Our students are excited to take on that challenge.”

Global Impact Academy

 

Ocee Elementary School

 

Global Impact Academy

 

Campbell Elementary School