THOMASVILLE- Thomas County Middle School and Bishop Hall School have been recognized as Math Leader Schools by the Georgia Department of Education, a prestigious distinction celebrating exceptional performance and growth in mathematics under the state’s updated K-12 Mathematics Standards.

State Superintendent Richard Woods visited Thomas County Middle School on Wednesday to personally present Math Leader banners to both schools. This honor acknowledges their commitment to fostering strong numeracy skills and achieving outstanding student growth and proficiency in mathematics.

“The Math Leader Award is a new recognition that focuses on both growth and achievement in numeracy skills,” Woods explained. “These schools, along with their educators, students, and families, have worked diligently to implement the new K-12 Mathematics Standards and prepare all students. I commend them on their outstanding work.”

Thomas County Middle School earned the Outstanding Achievement designation, highlighted by a 100% passing rate on the Algebra End-of-Course (EOC) exam by students in Stacie Layne’s Algebra class. These students, now thriving as high school freshmen, were praised for their readiness and academic success.

At Bishop Hall School, Charles Scott’s Algebra class was recognized for achieving an impressive 15% growth in EOC proficiency, earning the school the Gateway Growth distinction.

“This is the fun part of the job,” Woods said. “Recognizing and seeing the hard work that is being put in by our teachers and students—and seeing that the work is paying off. Hopefully, this is an encouragement for staff and students that we can do the work. While we celebrate these achievements, we also want to keep pushing forward and improving.”

These accomplishments place Thomas County Middle School and Bishop Hall School among an elite group of 624 schools statewide to earn the Math Leader designation.

Dr. Lisa Williams, Superintendent of Thomas County Schools, expressed her pride in the achievements of both schools.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our teachers, students, and families,” Williams said. “It highlights the incredible work being done in our classrooms to prepare students for future success. We are proud of these accomplishments and look forward to building on this foundation of excellence.”

Woods encouraged the schools to continue their commitment to mathematics education. “This is bragging rights for these Thomas County schools,” he said. “My hope is that next year I will come back and add ribbons to your banner and give some banners to the other schools.”

Georgia’s K-12 Mathematics Standards, adopted in 2021 and implemented during the 2023-2024 school year, emphasize mastery of concepts and real-world application to equip students for long-term success.

Thomas County Schools’ exceptional recognition as Math Leader Schools underscores the district’s dedication to academic excellence and its mission to prepare all students for a bright future.