Bibb County Schools show ‘steadfast’ improvement on 2025 state report card

Students across all levels in the Bibb County School District are making academic gains, according to new scores released Wednesday by the Georgia Department of Education.

The school district’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores show growth in statewide test results and improvements in preparing students for their next academic steps this year compared to last year. School officials say this reflects rising graduation rates that continue to outpace the state average for a third consecutive year.

The CCRPI is a state accountability report card consisting of five components, each scored on a 0-to-100 scale: content mastery, progress, closing gaps, readiness and graduation rate. The index measures how well public schools prepare students for college and careers, including student subgroups such as economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and English learners.

For the third consecutive year, Bibb County elementary and middle schools recorded overall growth in the content mastery category, which includes student performance on statewide assessments in English language arts, math, science and social studies, according to the district.

Three Macon elementary schools — Alexander II Magnet (80.9), Carter (70.5), and Springdale (73.7) — outperformed the state average in content mastery.

Ethel Lett, Bibb County’s assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, credited the district’s success to its commitment to maximize student achievement.

“These accomplishments reflect the hard work, resilience and commitment of the entire school community to fostering academic excellence and personal success,” Lett said in a statement.

The progress category measures the level of growth students are demonstrating in English language arts, mathematics and how well English learners are progressing toward English language proficiency.

Overall progress scores for elementary schools in the Bibb County increased from 76.3 to 82.6, with middle schools posting a smaller percentage-point gain. The direction of growth in this area for the high schools has dropped, with scores dipping from 77.2 to 66.3.

While the high schools’ overall closing gaps score jumped dramatically from 26 to 87.9, state officials say the “closing gaps component is not comparable between 2024 and 2025, as 2024 flags did not include mathematics due to the implementation of new mathematics standards and assessments in the 2023-2024 school year.”

‘We recognize that our work is not done’

While the school district’s overall scores were up, school-level results in Bibb County were mixed, with some campuses seeing declines or setbacks in certain CCRPI areas.

Schools are showing slow improvement. At Union Elementary, for example, the content mastery score increased from 29 to 32.8.

Recent data shows that reading remains a significant stumbling block for the district, as it still trails state averages in almost all subjects. Despite ongoing challenges in reading and literacy, officials say the district’s progress is cause for celebration and fuels optimism for further growth.

“At the same time, we recognize that our work is not done,” Lett said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to closing achievement gaps and ensuring that every student — regardless of background or circumstance — has access to the support, opportunities and resources needed to thrive.”

The Georgia Department of Education spotlighted personalized learning, tailoring instruction to each student’s needs and interests, as a key factor to the district’s gains. This approach led to a 5.5-point gain in Content Mastery at the BCSD high school level and showcased the “power of relationships and relevance in student learning,” state officials said.

Southwest High School, once known for the district’s lowest graduation rate, made notable CCRPI gains. Its graduation rate jumped from 39% in 2012 to 92.9% in 2024.

Southwest High School Principal Bernard Young previously told The Telegraph that maintaining personalized learning has made the difference in student success, especially in closing achievement gaps.

“You have to change the narrative,” Young said in a statement. “It’s not about the test. Stop talking tests and start talking about building and growing individuals.”

The school’s content mastery and readiness scores, while still low at 25.8 and 54.2 respectively, also improved from last year.

Southwest’s Closing Gaps score rose from 54.2 to 100. While Young previously said he had anticipated improvement due to increased dual enrollment options, state officials said the scores from the two years are not comparable due to calculation changes.

Turning ‘numbers into names’

District leaders said growth was also fueled by enhanced teacher collaboration and stronger relationships with families.

“You have to turn your numbers into names,” Howard High School Principal Michael Scott said in a press release. “We’re all looking at data points all day, but these are real human beings. In our data team meetings, we call our students by name. We know where they are, and what barriers are in the way that we need to remove to get to the next level. Our students are real human beings. They have an identity. That’s who we’re working with every day.”

Lett said through high-quality instruction, strong partnerships and a focus on continuous improvement, the BCSD is preparing all students to be future-ready for any future goal.

“Together, we celebrate how far we’ve come and stay focused on the important work ahead,” she said.

Visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website to view more CCRPI scores.

This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM.