**Mission Statement:
Our mission is to produce high achieving
students.
All Houston County schools are fully accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools. This accreditation means that all schools
offer equitable educational programs as a result of applied standards. These
standards are checked annually by SACS, and every five years the schools are
required to hold evaluations conducted by visiting educators. All schools also
meet all standards established by the Georgia Department of Education. The
system was named by SACS a "2003-2004 Super District for Quality Schools."
School System by the Numbers
Number of students ~24,000
Number
of full-time employees 3,178
Number of certified employees/teachers 1871 /
1635
Number of schools 34
Elementary (Grade range
Pre-K - 5) 21
Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)
7
High Schools (Grades 9 - 12)
4
Alternative Schools 2
Expenditure per Pupil
(average, FY03) $6,833
2004-05 General Fund Budget $163,771,117
2004-05
Total Budget $246,572,745
The Houston County School System student
population increases an average of 550 students per school year. Two
new elementary schools opened last school year, and two replacement middle
schools will open within two years to help accommodate this
growth. Numerous schools are also receiving classroom additions.
Achievements and Recognition
SAT Scores
...Top 10% Above
National Average
Iowa Test of Basic Skills Scores
....Above National
Average
HCSS Georgia High School Graduation Test Scores
..Above
State Average
Advanced Placement Scores
.....Above Global
Average
All traditional high schools, all middle schools, and eleven
elementary schools in the Houston County School System have been named Georgia
Schools of Excellence for a total of 30 times since 1984. In addition,
Centerville Elementary School, Linwood Elementary School, Houston County High
School and Warner Robins High School have been named National Schools of
Excellence.
**Enrollment Procedures
To enroll a student in the
Houston County School System, the following documents must be
provided:
Records or transcript of previous school attendance (if not
entering kindergarten or first grade for the first time.) The school will make a
direct request to the previous school, but responsibility rests with the
parents.
Birth certificate for all grades.
Guardianship papers if
the child does not live with the natural parents.
Social Security number
or waiver or an application for Social Security number.
Proof of
residence such as a utility bill or lease.
Ear, eye, dental (EED)
screening.
Immunization record, Georgia Form 3231.
* Note: A child
enrolling in a Georgia school for the first time at any grade level must be
age-appropriately immunized with all required vaccines. The following are
required at date of entry:
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Two doses of
measles-containing vaccine
Varicella vaccine (unless child has had
chicken pox)
Vaccinations and vaccination records may be obtained from
the Houston County Health Department or from a private physician. Please note
that the immunization record must be on an official form provided by the Georgia
Department of Human Resources (Form 3231).
*****Important
***** Bring a copy of student's permanent school records with you to
register your child; the school will request an official copy of child's
transcript from school of origin. The purpose of this is to help get
your child registered instead of waiting weeks to receive a
transcript.
**ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS' DRESS CODE
Appropriate dress,
appearance, proper behavior, and cleanliness are vital to each member of the
school community. Developing good tastes in attire, good grooming habits, and
good behavior is a part of the educational program. Wearing inappropriate dress
to school can have a negative influence on the educational process and the
educational climate of the school.
Each student, with the advice and
counsel of his/her parents or guardian should dress in a manner which is
appropriate for school and its related activities. Students dressed modestly
will generally have no problems concerning student dress codes.
The
following guidelines are followed in determining whether or not a student's
attire is appropriate.
--The dress, apparel, ornament (jewelry), or
grooming is not detrimental to the health and safety of the student or other
students. Male students are not permitted to wear earrings.
--The dress,
apparel, ornament, or grooming is not detrimental to the educational process or
the educational climate.
--The dress, apparel, ornament, or grooming is
consistent with conventional standards of modesty and decorum.
--The
dress, apparel, ornament, or grooming is free from words, slogans, or pictures,
which advertise drugs, alcohol, or sex or which contain vulgar or offensive
writing, racial slurs, suggestive pictures or emblems or which may infer
membership in gangs.
The campus administrator of the school is charged
with the enforcement of the student dress code. The campus administrator is
given wide latitude of discretion in the determination of proper or improper
dress and behavior of students. Students who are found to be in violation of the
dress code are subject to disciplinary action. The principal's actions may
include:
*counseling the student
* warning the student
* calling
parents to bring a change of clothes
* placing the student in in-school
suspension for the remainder of the day
* suspending the student short term
* recommending long-term suspension (for flagrant or repeated
violations)
All clothing is to be worn appropriately and in the manner
for which it was designed. For example, a shirt designed to be tucked in the
trousers or skirt should be worn with the shirttail tucked in. Belts should be
buckled. The school reserves the right to establish rules during the school year
regarding new fashions in dress.
The following rules for dress, apparel,
ornament, and/or grooming apply:
* Outer clothing which resembles
loungewear, pajamas, or underwear is prohibited.
* See-through clothing is
prohibited. (T-shirts must be worn under mesh see-through shirts.)
* Proper
underclothing which insures modesty is required.
* Shoes/sandals must be worn
at all times. Cleated shoes are prohibited inside the building.
* Clothing
that is too tight so as to be immodest is prohibited.
* Clothing which has
holes cut or torn that may expose the seat or parts of the body unique to the
male or female is prohibited.
* Halter tops, backless blouses, strapless
blouses and dresses, sleeveless T-shirts, bike shorts and short-shorts are
prohibited. Shorts appropriate for young children are permitted. Students in
grades Pre-K through 3rd grade may wear tank tops.
* Fads and styles in dress
that differ extremely from conventionally accepted standards are
prohibited.
* Hair must be well groomed; extremes in style and color should
be avoided.
* Students may not wear hats, caps, combs, or picks, etc., inside
the building.
* Extremes in clothing style, color, pattern, and fabric should
be avoided.
ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION
The elementary instructional
program in grades K-5 addresses the curriculum areas of language arts,
mathematics, social studies, science, health and safety, music, art and physical
education. Emphasis is placed on a balanced literacy language arts program,
which includes reading, process writing, spelling, and grammar; and a hands-on
computational skills program in math, which uses a laboratory model and
manipulatives for instruction. The science program also employs an inductive,
hands-on laboratory model. The social studies curriculum is sequenced
to parallel the student's growing and expanding relationship with
others.
The basic program of elementary instruction is supplemented by
special programs such as Title 1, the Early Intervention Program (EIP), special
education classes, and gifted classes. In addition, each school is
staffed with a school counselor. Many schools offer specialists in the areas of
Reading Recovery, art, music, or physical education. Additionally, English
Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services are available to students that
qualify.
Houston County has been a leader in recognizing the need for
elementary school counselors and in funding the positions ahead of most school
systems in the state. In addition, state staff development funds were
used to provide quality training programs in the county to prepare and certify
local teachers for the counseling positions.
The local philosophical goal
for elementary instruction in the school system is to provide a quality program
which fulfills the academic, social, and emotional needs of every
child.
More information on after school services can be found in the
Contact/Link.
***For 2005-2006 school calendar information please see
Overview in Education section.***