Valdosta Middle School and Valdosta High School have been removed from the Georgia Department of Education’s Focus School List.

 The two schools were focus schools because they are Title I schools that had the largest within-school gaps between the highest-achieving subgroup(s) and the lowest-achieving subgroup(s) and, at the high school level, had the largest within-school gaps in graduations rates, according to school officials.

 Following the news from the Georgia Department of Education, Alvin Hudson, interim superintendent, said, “It’s a great day to be a Wildcat. I’m so pleased to announce that there were no Valdosta City Schools identified as Priority or Focus Schools.  We are so proud of the dedication and laser focus from Valdosta Middle and Valdosta High School’s administration, teachers and students to increase student achievement.  Their hard work has paid off.  What a great way to start the 2015-16 school year.

“The school system said getting Valdosta High School off of the focus list was a collaborative effort that included a lot of hard work and dedication from everyone.  Now together we can celebrate this accomplishment.  Teachers at Valdosta High School truly care about their students and their individual achievements.”

Dr. Janice Richardson, principal of Valdosta High School, said, "At Valdosta High School we are in the business of graduating students and preparing them for limitless opportunities.

Valdosta Middle School representatives echoed the sentiments.

“It is quite an achievement for our administrators, faculty and students.  We built in instructional time for our entire student body to address areas of concern.  Together we made great strides and the ultimate goal of coming off the focus school list was reached,” said Beth DeLoach, principal of Valdosta Middle School.

Under Georgia’s renewed Elementary and Secondary Education Act flexibility, the criteria for Priority and Focus Schools are now fully aligned with the College and Career Readiness Performance Index, that officials say allows for a more transparent measure with which districts and schools are already familiar.