State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox recently released the winners of the inaugural Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement Awards, a new awards program recognizing schools that had the highest achievement and greatest improvement on state curriculum tests.

These awards are based on the performance of students on the Criterion- Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and the Endof Course-Tests (EOCT). Schools are acknowledged in two categories:

IMPROVEMENT: The ten schools in each honored subject area and grade that had the greatest improvement in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards.

ACHIEVEMENT: The ten schools in each honored subject area and grade that had the highest percentage of student scores in the exceeds category.

Haven, Spencer, Gadsden and Garrison Elementary schools along with Myers Middle school received awards in the improvement category and Savannah Arts Academy received awards in the achievement category for the End-of-Course-Tests and the Georgia High School Graduation Tests.

Awards are earned in the following subjects and grades:

READING and ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS: Grades 1-8 Reading CRCT; Grades 2 & 6 English Language Arts CRCT; 9th Grade Literature EOCT (high school only); American Literature EOCT; English Language Arts & Reading GHSGT

M ATHEMATICS: Grades 1-8 Mathematics CRCT; Algebra 1 EOCT; Geometry EOCT; Mathematics GHSGT

SOCIAL STUDIES: Grades 4 & 8 CRCT; U.S. History EOCT; Economics EOCT; Social Studies GHSGT

SCIENCE: Grades 5-8 CRCT; Physical Science EOCT; Biology EOCT

For more information on the Superintendent's Distinguished Academic Achievement Awards, please visit the GA Department of Education website at www.doe.k12.ga.us.