Leadership Team As the 23rd largest school system in the state of Georgia, Carroll County School System is home to approximately 14,800 students. These students may attend one of twenty-two schools in the county system where the average pupil/teacher ratio is 18:1. Each of these schools is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is the mission of Carroll County Schools to provide all students a high quality education in a personalized, supportive environment. The Carroll County School System maintains the belief that small community schools provide a personal approach that ultimately makes a difference. In Carroll County, where phenomenal growth is occurring, the school system has developed a comprehensive facility plan to continue the construction of state-of-the-art facilities within the school communities. Quality learning environments support a refined curriculum and highly skilled teachers in order for every student to achieve success. With over 2,000 employees, the Carroll County School System is the largest employer in Carroll County. Carroll County Schools have an annual $200 million impact on the economic development of Carroll County. Currently, over $48 million in SPLOST and capital outlay projects are underway throughout the county. The Carroll County Board of Education adopted a five-year facility plan that will ultimately add more than 250 classrooms. The Carroll County School System employs 1,000 certified employees. Sixty-three percent of these individuals hold a Master’s degree or higher. Last year, employees of the Carroll County School System were awarded Phi Beta Kappa’s "Teacher of the Year" and "Administrator of the Year," received national certification honors, were asked to participate in the ACT Works Keys Pilot School Program, were elected District President of the Georgia Food Service Association, and received numerous nominations for "Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers." Students within the Carroll County School System also received numerous honors. Five students from throughout the county were invited to participate in the Governor’s Honors Summer Program. Middle school students from Carroll County brought home two state science fair 1st place honors and nine regional science fair 1st place honors. Students received numerous academic honors, including being named the Department of Education’s "Georgia on My Mind" statewide essay winner, the National Horatio Alger Youth $10,000 scholarship winner, the Prep Sports Plus Georgia Public Television Academic Athlete of the Week, and "Wendy’s Heisman Award" winner. The State University of West Georgia and the West Central Technical College offer dual enrollment programs to area high school students seeking post-secondary opportunities as they fulfill graduation requirements. High school students choose from academic and/or technical tracks and follow a learning program designed to develop their interests and prepare them for further education. Students within the West Georgia area may elect to attend the Open Campus Night High School, a night high school designed to offer educational opportunities for those who desire to gain or extend required unit credit for graduation. Open Campus Night High offers a variety of academic and technical courses for those students needing a non-traditional option for graduation. Ten elementary and five middle schools provide an instructional program for pre-kindergarten through grade eight. The four-year-old pre-kindergarten program is dynamic, active, and age appropriate. An integrated, developmentally-based curriculum is used in the elementary grades. As part of the instructional program, elementary music, performing arts, and visual arts programs continue to grow. In addition, different schools choose instructional variations to enhance student potential and opportunity for expanding interests. Some examples of these programs are: looping classes, in which a teacher stays with a class for two years; character education school-wide programs, various fine arts programs; outdoor classrooms with nature trails; and Reading is Fundamental programs. In the middle school, the regular curriculum is rounded out with exploratory/connections classes and opportunities to use state-of-the-art technology labs. Students in grades six through eight include a focus on careers as part of their instructional program. Technology enhances learning opportunities for Carroll County students in a variety of ways. Kindergarten through grade 12, the system has a ratio of one computer for every five students. In all schools, satellite technology supports distance-learning activities. Elementary grade technological diversity includes multi-media computer access, networked media centers, satellite and closed circuit capabilities, various software programs, and many other exceptional technology resources. Each of the high schools has a computer writing lab for regular use in English courses. Four new schools are to open within the next five years. The school system has experienced a five percent growth rate during the last year and anticipates a six percent growth rate within the next two consecutive years. The primary area of growth is located around the Villa Rica and Temple areas along Interstate 20. During the next several years, multiple construction projects, renovations, and modifications will be completed in order to prepare for the implementation of the proposed five new attendance zones for the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year. For more information about the Carroll County School System, contact the superintendent’s office at 770-832-3568. For individual enrollment in a particular school, contact the school principal’s office. For bus transportation information, contact the transportation department at 770-834-3346.