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Students at Floyd County Schools (FCS) earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. 

The programs celebrate the hard work of thousands of high school students nationwide to help them showcase their strong academic performance. 

For the first time, the academic honors recognize first-generation students, in addition to rural and small-town, Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic/or Latino students. The program opens college access for more students because many institutions use the awards for their recruitment efforts.

The following students from around FCS received the honor: 

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments,” said FCS Director of Advanced Programs and Assessment McCall Govignon. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and this honor reinforces their individuality and achievements as assets for their future.”

Eligible students must meet the following criteria to qualify:

Earn a GPA of B+ (equal to at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher.

PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade.

Attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, or a first-generation college student.

The program expanded this year to include a fifth award. Over 35,000 students nationwide received the inaugural National First-Generation Recognition Program Award. 

Every year, students can verify their eligibility on BigFuture® during their sophomore or junior year. At the start of the next school year, students receive their awards for their communities to celebrate them and colleges to recruit them as they head back to school for their junior or senior year. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and organizations using College Board’s Student Search Service™ can connect with awardees during the recruitment process to share more about their postsecondary programs.

“This year, the National Recognition Programs are recognizing more students than ever so that the outstanding academic abilities of more than 90,000 deserving students are not overlooked as they plan for their future,” said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “We’re proud to support colleges and universities that are committed to supporting all students, and our program offers one way they can strengthen their recruitment efforts to students that will thrive on their campus.”     

On Thursday, the Georgia Department of Education announced its 2023-24 lists of Distinguished and Reward schools, with Model Elementary and Pepperell Primary receiving the Distinguished School honor and Garden Lakes earning the Reward School honor.

The Distinguished Schools designation recognizes the highest-performing Title I schools in Georgia, while the Reward Schools designation recognizes Title I schools making the most significant improvements.

“I am so proud of Garden Lakes Elementary, Model Elementary, and Pepperell Primary for earning the Distinguished and Rewards School honor from the Georgia Department of Education,” stated Superintendent Dr. Glenn White. “This recognition highlights the hard work, dedication, and excellence demonstrated by our students, teachers, and staff who collaborate daily to achieve excellence. Congratulations on this accomplishment.”

Distinguished Schools are among the highest-performing 5% of Title I Schoolwide and Title I Targeted Assistance schools, based on the combined ELA and math content mastery scores from the statewide assessments in 2022-2023.

Reward Schools are among the greatest-improving 5% of Title I Schoolwide and Title I Targeted Assistance schools when comparing the content mastery scores from the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 of statewide assessments.

“I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by all the students, teachers, and school communities recognized today,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “The Title I Distinguished and Reward Schools have also made significant efforts to overcome barriers, meet challenges, and produce great gains for their students. Together, these schools prove that with collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to success, all students can achieve their fullest potential.”

About Floyd County Schools

The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.

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Pepperell High School student Danny Wilson correctly spelled “cactus” and then “sword” to win the Floyd County Schools (FCS) District Spelling Bee Wednesday morning at Armuchee High School. 

Thirteen Floyd County students put their spelling skills to the test in the annual competition sponsored by the Floyd County Chapter of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). Pepperell Middle’s Ella Craver won second place and will serve as the alternate for FCS at the next level of competition. Danny will represent FCS next at the GAE Region 1 Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Georgia Highlands College Lakeview Building. 

Each attendance area sent its school representative to the FCS District Spelling Bee in hopes of taking home the title and a chance to advance to the regional competition. Students in grades 3-8 are eligible for the competition. The group of spellers went through twelve rounds of words before a champion was declared in the event.

The event is sponsored each year by the Floyd County Chapter of the Georgia Association of Educators. FCS Spelling Bee Coordinator and district ELA Specialist Brittney Phinazee welcomed the audience and spellers on behalf of the system, then read the rules and explained the process of the bee; Director of Instructional Technology & Online Learning/School Media Programs Celena Arrington was the pronouncer of the words; and FCS Fine Arts Coordinator Sherry Childs, FCS Middle School Literacy Coach Lindsay Norton, and Director of School Improvement & Data Analytics Jason Brock served as judges.

School Spelling Bee winners who participated in the FCS district bee:

Armuchee Elementary: Ryker Clinage

Armuchee Middle: Ava Blackburn

Alto Park: Judith Martinez

Garden Lakes: Alex Pablo-Bautista

Coosa Middle: Jamison Charles

Coosa High: Philip Cannon

Model Elementary: Elias Nottingham

Johnson Elementary: Maddie Grace Maulding

Model Middle: Mary James Powell

Model High: Alexander Tomlinson

Pepperell Elementary: Landon Newberry

Pepperell Middle: Ella Craver

Pepperell High: Danny Wilson

Photos from the bee can be found here.

Application Process

• Pre-K Applications will be available on the district website homepage beginning Monday, February 3, 2025.

  • Go to floydboe.net

    •  

  • Locate the “2025-26 Pre-K Registration” button on the main page 

  • The button will take you to the “New Student Enrollment” page

  • Locate the “2025-26 Pre-K” registration link and complete the enrollment process

• To participate in the lottery drawing for Pre-K, online applications must be completed by Friday, February 14, 2025​, at Midnight.

• If accepted in Pre-K, parents are required to provide proof of residency which is a copy of the power, water, or gas bill in the parent’s name.  

  • Proof of residency documentation must match the student’s address on the application.  If proof of residency documentation and the student’s address on the application do not match, the student’s spot in Pre-K will be forfeited, the student will be placed at the end of the waiting list, and the spot will be filled from the top of the waiting list. Families with questions regarding proof of residency should contact the school registrar.

• Children may only apply at ONE school.

When will parents find out if the child has a spot?

Families will be notified by mail of the results of the lottery drawing in late March.

Late Applications

Late applications will be accepted after February 14, 2025. These students will be placed on a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis. Slots will be filled as they become available.

Out of District Students

FCS accepts out-of-district students. For the lottery drawing, students who are in-district are drawn first. Then, out-of-district students are drawn. Students MUST live in Georgia to participate in Pre-K.

Age Requirement

Children must be 4 Years Old by September 1, 2025, to be eligible for Pre-K.

FCS Schools with Pre-K Classrooms for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Armuchee Attendance Area- Armuchee Primary 

• Coosa Attendance Area

  • Alto Park Elementary

  • Garden Lakes Elementary

• Model Attendance Area

  • Johnson Elementary

  • Model Elementary

• Pepperell Attendance Area- Pepperell Primary

To view the 2025-2026 school year calendar, click HERE.

The Floyd County Board of Education has announced its intention to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581, which aims to establish a statewide floating homestead exemption. This new legislation limits the annual increase in property tax assessments on homesteaded properties, raising concerns among local education leaders about its potential long-term effects on the school district’s finances.

The impact of HB 581 is significant for Floyd County Schools, as local property taxes provide crucial funding for essential services, including teacher salaries. If the district remains opted into the floating homestead exemption, it could disrupt long-term fiscal planning and hinder the district's ability to generate sufficient revenue.

Under HB 581, the district may face increased reliance on state and federal funding sources, creating budgetary challenges, especially since funding mechanisms like the Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding are not adjusted for inflation. Local property tax revenue is vital to bridging this gap.

Failure to opt-out now would permanently lock the district into the floating homestead exemption, potentially jeopardizing its financial health and sustainability for years to come. Opting out of HB 581 is essential to safeguard the long-term fiscal health of Floyd County Schools. The Board of Education must make this decision now to ensure the continued provision of high-quality education and services to the students of Floyd County.

Specific potential impacts that this could have on Floyd County Schools include: 

• Changes in grade levels and campus/school community reconfigurations and larger class sizes 
• Direct effects on numbers of staff and teachers, student services, and communities
• Major alterations to lessen the current academic curriculum
• Fewer opportunities for our students (such as dual enrollment, extracurricular activities, and work-based learning programs, interventions, additional resources, etc.) due to budget cuts

Floyd County already has a local homestead exemption in place, which provides tax relief for homeowners while supporting critical school funding. Because of this, the Board of Education intends to opt out of HB 581 to preserve resources for students. The Board of Education is dedicated to making the best decisions for the future of the community’s schools and students. 

Public hearings to be held at the Floyd County Schools Central Office, 600 Riverside Parkway, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 6-7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m., and Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m.

“We want to ensure that any decision we make reflects the priorities and values of our community,” said Superintendent Dr. Glenn White. “Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we must carefully consider the benefits of HB 581 in relation to its potential effects on their education and future."

About Floyd County Schools

The Floyd County School (FloydBoe.net) system provides opportunities for schools and students to achieve academic excellence. Floyd County teachers focus on academic basics mixed with innovative teaching methods to build a strong foundation for student learning. In Floyd County Schools, the academic programs are available to prepare students for the most demanding college, university, technical college or other post-secondary training. It is the mission of FCS to foster productive citizens while building on the cornerstones of integrity, community, accountability, and trust. Located in Rome, Georgia, the school system serves 16 different schools.