The Georgia Department of Education today released the 2025 lists of Distinguished and Reward Schools, designations which honor the highest-performing and most-improved Title I schools in the state. Specifically, the Distinguished Schools designation recognizes the highest-performing Title I schools in Georgia, while Reward Schools are the Title I schools making the most significant improvements.

SCCPSS has four schools designated as Reward Schools in the 2025 SY. In addition, Savannah Classical Academy Charter School is recognized as a Distinguished AND Reward School - the only Distinguished School in Chatham County and one of only 9 schools recognized with both designations across the state. Savannah Classical CEO Barry Lollis stated in a letter to school families, "This accomplishment belongs to every member of our SCA community. Our students’ diligence, our teachers’ expertise and care, and the unwavering support of our parents have together made this possible. It is through your collective effort that Savannah Classical Academy continues to shine as a model of what is achievable when high expectations and strong character come together in education.” Savannah Classical is the only Charter School in the state to achieve both designations.

The definition of each of the designations is as follows:

Distinguished Schools are among the highest-performing 5% of Title I Schoolwide and Title I Targeted Assistance schools based on the combined ELA and math content mastery scores from the statewide assessments of the most recent year.

Reward Schools are among the greatest-improving 5% of Title I Schoolwide and Title I Targeted Assistance schools when comparing the content mastery scores from the most recent two years of statewide assessments.

The SCCPSS schools listed as reward schools include:

• Georgetown K-8

• New Hampstead K-8

• Savannah Classical Academy

• School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary

• Shuman Elementary

***Please note that Shuman Elementary shut down at the end of the 2024-25 SY. Students from that school have been rezoned to Low and Williams Elementary Schools, and the Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey, Jr. School.***

Schools must be Title I to be eligible for the Distinguished School and Reward School designations and must not currently be identified for Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI) or Targeted Support & Improvement (TSI).

“Just as we work to help all schools continuously improve, it’s essential that we take time to celebrate schools as they make great gains for students,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These schools have faced real barriers and kept the focus on preparing students for life. They believed in their kids and their communities, and that determination made all the difference. Congratulations to the 2025 Distinguished and Reward Schools and their leaders, teachers, students, and families!”