Forsyth County Schools Earn Georgia Literacy and Math Leader Recognition

State School Superintendent Richard Woods traveled to Alliance Academy for Innovation in Cumming on March 4 to hand-deliver the recognition in person, presenting banners to Forsyth County Schools after the district earned Literacy Leader and Math Leader distinctions from the Georgia Department of Education.

The honors, announced by the district on March 10, are based on performance and growth on the Georgia Milestones assessments. Schools earning the designations demonstrate exceptional student achievement or significant academic growth in reading and mathematics, reflecting what the state identifies as strong instructional practices and measurable progress in developing foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

A standout detail in the district's announcement: every Forsyth County middle school earned recognition in either literacy or mathematics. The district called that sweep a reflection of "a districtwide commitment to strengthening student learning during these critical years," the middle grades being a stretch where academic momentum can either accelerate or stall.

"Strong literacy and math skills are the foundation for every student's success," said Dr. Mitch Young, Superintendent of Forsyth County Schools. "We are incredibly proud of the teachers, leaders, and students whose hard work has led to this recognition."

Woods, who has made early literacy a centerpiece of his tenure at the Georgia Department of Education, framed the stakes plainly. "The ability to read opens up the doors not only to the rest of a student's education but to their ability to continue learning throughout their life," he said. "These schools — our Literacy Leaders — are doing exceptional work to ensure every student is equipped with the lifelong skill of literacy, and it's an honor to recognize them."

The Literacy Leader designation has been part of Georgia's education accountability landscape for several years. In a prior recognition cycle, the Georgia Department of Education named 155 schools statewide as Literacy Leaders, with 70 honored for achievement, 84 for growth, and one school qualifying in both categories. For achievement, the state's threshold required at least 90 percent of third-grade students reading at grade level; for growth, schools needed to show a 15 percent or higher increase in proficiency from one year to the next. Those criteria applied to the 2022-23 school year cycle; the standards governing the current round of recognitions have not been separately published in the district's announcement.

Forsyth schools have appeared on the state's Literacy Leader lists in previous cycles as well. In the 2022-23 recognition round, Daves Creek Elementary, Johns Creek Elementary, Settles Bridge Elementary, Sharon Elementary, and Shiloh Point Elementary all earned Achievement designations from the Georgia Department of Education.

The full list of Forsyth schools recognized in the March 2026 announcement, including which campuses earned Literacy Leader versus Math Leader status and whether each was honored for achievement or growth, was published by the district separately. Families and community members can contact district communications through Michele Dugan at mdugan@forsyth.k12.ga.us for the complete school-by-school breakdown.