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Students encouraged to read this summer

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Saturday, May 17th, 2014, 2:30pm
Students encouraged to read this summer

(WXIA) -- The Georgia Department of Education has created a 2014 Summer Reading Challenge for students in all grades.

The program was announced Thursday at Timber Ridge Elementary School in Cobb County. Its goal is to close the achievement gap that widens during the summer months, when children often don't read.

"No student should have to start the school year having fallen behind," State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge said. "That's what we know, and that's what we're committed to preventing, because that loss is preventable."

The challenge encourages students to read for at least 15 to 30 minutes every day. The GDOE outlined suggested summer goals for children based on their school years:

* K-2: 10 books
* 3-5: 8 chapter books
* 6-12: 5 fiction books and 5 nonfiction books

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16 DeKalb students named Gates Millennium Scholars

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Thursday, May 8th, 2014, 8:52am
16 DeKalb students named Gates Millennium Scholars

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Sixteen seniors in nine DeKalb County high schools have been named 2014 Gates Millennium Scholars.

The nationwide honor is given annually to exceptional minority students. The program includes a full scholarship to the undergraduate institution of the recipient's choice, as well as funding for graduate work.

"These worthy students were chosen because of their strong leadership skills, commitment to community service and overall academic achievement," DeKalb County Schools Interim Superintendent Michael Thurmond said in a release. "These awards are both recognition of achievement and an investment in the futures of our children."

DeKalb County's latest group of Gates Millennium Scholars includes:

Yusra Ahmedin
Chamblee Charter HS

Muhozi Aimable
Clarkston HS

Kim An Ta
Clarkston HS

Njeri Bennett
Arabia Mountain HS

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Chesnut Charter presents 'Aladdin Jr.'

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Thursday, May 1st, 2014, 9:44am
Chesnut Charter presents 'Aladdin Jr.'

DUNWOODY, Ga. -- This year's Chesnut Charter Elementary school-wide musical is Aladdin Jr.

Past musicals have been so popular that Aladdin Jr. will be performed twice -- Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2, both at 6 p.m.

Chesnut Charter Elementary is located at 4576 North Peachtree Road in Dunwoody.

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DeKalb schools among best in Georgia

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Monday, April 21st, 2014, 12:31pm
DeKalb schools among best in Georgia

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- A number of DeKalb County public schools fared very well on this year's College & Career Ready Performance Index.

The rankings, made public Monday, revealed that DeKalb Early College Academy is the highest performing high school in Georgia, and the DeKalb School of the Arts is among the state's top five high schools. DeKalb County School District is Georgia's only district to have two high schools in the top five.

Three DeKalb elementary schools -- Austin, Kittredge and Wadsworth -- are among Georgia's top 25 elementary schools, according to the index.

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9 DeKalb high schools among America's Most Challenging

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Tuesday, April 8th, 2014, 11:18am
9 DeKalb high schools among America's Most Challenging

(WXIA) -- The Washington Post has unveiled its 2014 list of America's Most Challenging High Schools.

The newspaper determines the annual rankings through a ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests a school gives each year, divided by the number of graduating seniors.

Nine DeKalb County schools made the list, which features more than 2,000 high schools across the country. The listed numbers are each school's national ranking.

178. DeKalb School of the Arts
325. Chamblee Charter HS
606. Tucker HS
808. Dunwoody HS
935. Lakeside HS
1241. Druid Hills HS
1666. Southwest DeKalb HS
1687. Arabia Mountain HS
1962. Cross Keys HS

Additionally, Decatur High School, which is part of a charter system, is No. 205 on the list.

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Fights in high schools: DeKalb County

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Monday, March 31st, 2014, 11:21am
Fights in high schools: DeKalb County

(WXIA) -- Last week, 11Alive News received a shocking video clip from a viewer. The footage showed a teenage boy being repeatedly punched in the face in a locker room at Parkview High School in Gwinnett County.

WATCH | Teen beaten at school

The video prompted an investigation into reports of violence and fights in Georgia's public schools. The Georgia Department of Education provided 11Alive News with four years' worth of discipline incident reports for every school in the state.

WATCH | 11Alive's Doug Richards investigates violence at school

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Ga. Race to the Top 'Year Three' Report

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Monday, March 24th, 2014, 9:25am
Ga. Race to the Top 'Year Three' Report

(WXIA) -- The U.S. Department of Education recently released its "Year Three" Report for the 12 states participating in the Race to the Top grant initiative.

Educational practices and successes in Georgia were highlighted throughout the report.

"We have taken on some major initiatives and our success is a direct reflection of the collaborative efforts between our department, other education agencies and the hundreds of participating teachers, principals and district leaders around our state," Dr. Susan Andrews, Deputy Superintendent of Race to the Top Implementation in Georgia, said in a release.

"While educational reform work is never easy, we are pleased with the significant progress that our state has made as reflected in this report," Andrews added.

Some highlights from the report include:

* Nearly 300 Georgia teachers were placed in state public schools from alternative certification programs.

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