Muscogee County Schools Keep Students’ Futures Bright in Columbus, GA, Area
Personalized learning and community support mean bright futures for Muscogee County students.
Sponsored by: Muscogee County Schools
Muscogee County Schools is a diverse system with 56 schools, centers and magnet programs. Its proximity to Fort Benning means the district also welcomes members of military families to learn and work in its schools.
Dr. David Lewis, the Superintendent, says students come from a variety of backgrounds and with different needs and abilities and, like students everywhere, were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Before the pandemic,” he says, “we had already begun implementation of our one-to-one Chromebook device program as a prelude to our new personalized learning initiative.”
Personalized learning makes the educational experience of each student responsive to that student’s talents, interests and needs. The framework focuses on individual student data and a differentiated approach; incorporates student groupings or rotations; promotes student ownership in setting and monitoring their educational goals; and considers the whole child.
“Students are the focus of all our efforts.”
Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent
The district also has begun a new virtual program that features local teachers serving local students in a live virtual environment. Participating students are assigned to a school in their zone, where they can participate in on-site activities. All schools have full fine arts and robotics programs, athletics and a host of other extracurricular activities and teams that compete at state, national and international levels.
“Our district is fortunate to have the benefit of a supportive community,” says Lewis, citing the Muscogee County Educational Excellence Foundation. “MEEF exists for the sole purpose of recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching.”
Each year, MEEF awards a week-long summer professional development session on the campus of Harvard University to the district’s top 10 teachers of the year.
“This community has also consistently demonstrated strong support for public education by approving capital outlay campaigns to renovate and build new facilities throughout the district,” he adds.
“Students are the focus of all our efforts,” Lewis concludes. “Our metrics for graduation rate, SAT and Advanced Placement performance exceed state and national averages, and we are producing full-option graduates prepared for post-secondary education and training, military service or entry into the workforce.”
