GaDOE Names Five HCS Elementary Schools Among Lists of Schools Making Significant Improvement

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Five Henry County Schools elementary schools were listed among the Georgia schools exiting or making progress to exit federal identification, according to a report released by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) in December.

Walnut Creek Elementary School was designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Progress School, while Bethlehem Elementary School, Hampton Elementary School, Stockbridge Elementary School, and Wesley Lakes Elementary School exited Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) status.

“For our schools to exit and make progress to exit federal identification, with no other school identified for support, reflects the investments all across Henry County Schools to achieve results for every child,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “I applaud the districtwide efforts and the diligence of our principals, teachers, students, and families. These achievements underscore our commitment to continuous improvement and the power of nurturing a collaborative and high-performance culture.”

Comprehensive Support and Improvement Progress Schools

Georgia identifies CSI schools every three years in alignment with the state’s amended Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), approved by the U.S. Department of Education in 2023, and each year, GaDOE recognizes CSI schools making progress on their improvement plans and performance as CSI Progress Schools.

Walnut Creek Elementary School was among the 43 CSI schools identified as making progress to exit federal identification.

“This recognition reflects the dedication and perseverance of our teachers, staff, students, and families as we work together to strengthen our school community,” said Principal Tamika Knighton. “At Walnut Creek Elementary, we have been intentional about building strong relationships, setting high expectations, and creating a culture where every child feels supported and challenged. We are proud of this milestone and remain focused on continuing the work that ensures excellence every day, the Walnut Creek way.”

CSI Progress Schools must have demonstrated a 5% increase in the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) Content Mastery component score from 2024 to 2025 and also have a score of 80 or higher on one of the other components (Progress, Closing Gaps, or Readiness).

Walnut Creek Elementary School reported gains in the measured CCRPI indicators: Content Mastery (+7.7), Progress (+27.6), and Readiness (+3.5), based on the 2025 CCRPI released in November, meeting the criteria to become a CSI progress school with an 84.5 Progress score.

Walnut Creek was also among nine HCS elementary schools to achieve a perfect Closing Gaps score of 100, exceeding the state score of 75.

Targeted Support and Improvement

The TSI designation identifies schools with one or more consistently underperforming student groups each year to provide targeted support and improvement, based on at least one CCRPI component.

Bethlehem Elementary School, Hampton Elementary School, Stockbridge Elementary School, and Wesley Lakes Elementary School were among 55 Georgia schools to make the necessary improvements to exit TSI status.

Bethlehem Elementary, Hampton Elementary, and Wesley Lakes Elementary School were named to the TSI list based on the performance of the students with disabilities student group.

Stockbridge Elementary School was named to the list based on the performance of the English Learner student group.

“Exiting TSI status is a significant milestone for Bethlehem Elementary School and a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and families,” said Principal SeTia Freeman. “Through intentional instruction, data-driven decision-making, and a strong focus on meeting the needs of every learner, our teachers have remained committed to continuous improvement. This achievement reflects our collective belief that all students can grow and succeed when guided by high expectations and meaningful support.”

“Teachers and students at Hampton Elementary School have demonstrated exceptional dedication and perseverance throughout the school year,” said Principal Michelle Williams. “Through hard work, collaboration, and a commitment to learning, classrooms have remained places of growth, creativity, and achievement. The collective efforts of our staff and students continue to build a positive school culture and set a strong foundation for future success.”

“We strengthened instruction across Stockbridge Elementary School classrooms through collaborative planning, used data to guide instructional decisions, and targeted interventions, enrichment, and acceleration for specific subgroups,” said Principal Dr. Cedric Peeples. “The major driver was the focus on historically underperforming subgroups. We disaggregated assessment data to identify priority power standards and monitored student progress weekly to ensure timely and targeted instructional adjustments. Additionally, leveraging teachers to facilitate small-group instruction allowed us to increase instructional touchpoints and provide more focused support for students who needed it most.”

“I’m proud of this accomplishment because our team was fully committed to the work,” said Wesley Lakes Elementary School Principal Dr. Jamilla Martin. “We strengthened Tier 1 instruction, intentionally used data to guide teaching, and enhanced collaborative planning. Additionally, teachers implemented targeted small-group instruction to meet students’ needs, and that collective focus led to meaningful progress for our students.”

Under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states are required to identify schools in need of additional support to ensure equal opportunity for all students to boost academic achievement. GaDOE uses the CSI and TSI designations for Georgia schools, using performance assessments based on CCRPI components to determine identification.