'Reward Schools' recognized in Northwest Georgia

Trion Elementary School

At Chattanooga Valley Middle School, 71 percent of students are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches.

That puts it squarely in the federal Title I category, meaning it's a school whose large population of low-income students makes it eligible for federal funding.

The Walker County, Ga., public school was recognized Tuesday for being in another category: It's one of handful of regional schools that made the Georgia Department of Education's list of 80 Title I schools with the highest absolute performance, over three years, for the "all students" group on statewide assessment tests.

"We have excellent scores," Principal Eugene Ward said. "Of course, we have excellent teachers and we have excellent students."

Another reason Chattanooga Valley Middle School does well, Ward said, is its focus on building good relationships.

"When a student enjoys being at school, they perform better," he said.

Trion Elementary School also was recognized as a high-performing school.

"It's just a testament to what our teachers do every day," said Phil Williams, superintendent of Trion City Schools.

Trion Elementary pulls students not just from inside the city limits but also from Chattooga County, he said. It's got a free and reduced lunch rate of about 47 percent, Williams said.

This isn't the first time the school has made the list.

"I know we've received it three years. It may be more like five [years]," Williams said. "I'd have to look it up, to be honest with you."

The state school district also recognized highest-progress schools - those among the 10 percent of the state's Title I schools that made the most progress in improving the performance of the "all students" group over three years on the statewide assessments.

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/tim.omarzu or twitter.com/TimOmarzu or 423-757-6651.