Rome City Schools’ commitment to student success was on full display Thursday as district leaders and principals shared a comprehensive snapshot of progress during a School Impact Checks meeting at the Central Office.
Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland discussed the purpose of the annual Impact Checks. Dr. Holland walked board members through CCRPI scores, MAP data, attendance, discipline trends, and COGNIA ratings, offering a district-level snapshot of progress.
School Impact Checks provide a comprehensive look at academic performance and student growth, as well as instruction, attendance, discipline, dual enrollment, pathway completion, advanced placement participation, and graduation rates. This aligns with the strategic goals and school improvement plan.
Members of the Rome City Schools Board of Education heard presentations from all eight schools and were able to ask questions throughout the meeting, helping deepen their understanding of how students across the district are performing.
Coretta Stewart, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented data for Main Elementary, which currently has an interim principal in place. Stewart highlighted several key improvements, including a 20-point increase in the school’s GOSA score from 46 to 66, along with CCRPI increases in all four areas.
“As a result of the significant CCRPI gains achieved in all areas, Main was also recognized as an Exceptional Progress School and exited the TSI list. This type of progress would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the staff and students,” Stewart said. “We are extremely proud of the team at Main for their commitment to continuous improvement and look forward to their continued growth.”
Anna K. Davie Principal Brant Amerman pointed to strong academic momentum at the school, highlighting encouraging trends in recent assessment data.
“Our Winter MAP data is showing some great progress. In reading, we’re projecting a 5 percent increase in the number of students scoring at the proficient and above level on the GMA. Math results are just as encouraging, with a projected 5 percent increase in students scoring proficient and above on the GMA compared to Fall MAP scores. Overall, this data shows we’re on track to meet our FY26 School Improvement Goals,” Amerman said.
Elm Street Principal Lisa Strack emphasized not only academic gains, but the school culture driving those results.
“I am so proud to see every part of our data steadily climbing, but I’m even prouder of the ‘why’ behind those numbers. Our 11 percent CCRPI increase is the result of a culture where students love being at school, and teachers have the support and space to do what they do best because of the genuine relationships they’ve built,” she said. “When you cultivate a climate like that, the progress honestly takes care of itself. It is just proof that Elm Street really is the best street, and we all believe that.”
East Central Principal Samantha Lindsey highlighted strong academic gains and continued progress toward growth goals.
“East Central is proud to share academic gains from the first semester of the school year. MAP Winter Projection data show that all seven grade levels met or exceeded projected growth targets in reading, while six of seven grade levels met or exceeded targets in math. The school has also seen a decrease in the number of students identified as federally chronically absent,” Lindsey said. “These outcomes reflect the dedication of East Central’s teachers and staff, whose commitment to building strong relationships with students and families continues to support student success. Rooted in the motto ‘Excellence in Everything,’ East Central remains focused on continued growth for all learners.”
West Central Elementary Principal McKensey Wheeler shared several positive developments from the school.
“We are very proud that West Central came off the Promise School list with a CCRPI score of 80.4. Our content mastery has increased in both math and ELA as well,” she said.
Wheeler also noted that chronic absenteeism is lower this year compared to last year, crediting an intentional schoolwide focus on improving attendance.
Dr. Dennis Drummond highlighted continued gains at West End Elementary.
“West End Elementary School students continue to demonstrate learning growth each year, as indicated by our increasing CCRPI score over the last 3 years. This past year, West End’s score improved in six of eight CCRPI indicators, and our single score increased by 2.4 points. Our most recent winter MAP projections anticipate continued gains this year, including projected increases in the percentage of students scoring as proficient and distinguished on the Georgia Milestones by 2 points in reading and 11.8 points in math,” Dr. Drummond said. “This is a testament to the amazing work of our teachers, our partnership with our outstanding families, and the support of our exemplary School Governance Team.”
Rome Middle School Principal Christian Barnes pointed to promising projections, with math increasing by 13 percent for Proficient and Above and reading increasing by 5.5 percent for Proficient and Above. He also noted ESS projections more than doubling for Developing and Above and increasing by three percent in math for Proficient and Above.
“This all reflects where we’ve been to inform where we are going,” Barnes said.
Rome High School Principal Parke Wilkinson highlighted collaboration and academic growth at the high school level.
“I am proud of the collaborative work that takes place in our building each week and deeply appreciative of the dedication shown by our academic coaches, teachers, administrative team, and central office staff. As a result of this collective effort, our Dual Enrollment and AP participation continues to grow. I am especially proud of our strong retention rate and the measurable gains demonstrated in Algebra and U.S. History EOC performance,” Wilkinson said.
The data presented by principals and Dr. Holland directly align with the goals outlined in Rome City Schools’ strategic plan and serve as measurable indicators of progress toward those objectives across the district.
Board Chair Faith Collins closed the meeting by reflecting on both progress and areas for continued focus.
“I think that we saw several schools improve from our last impact checks, and that’s a good thing. But I also think that we've got some work to do,” she said. “We want to see all of the schools making good gains.”