CES kindergarten teacher Sally Tillman works with a class reading group.

Vision, Mission & Guiding Principles

Established in 1886, the award-winning Carrollton City School System consistently produces high-level educational opportunities through a process of continuous improvement, creating a quality educational community that meets the intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of all students.

The school system not only serves the children of Carrollton, but others who may enroll as non-resident, tuition-paying students. In fact, roughly a third of the system's enrollment is made up of these students who have opted to become part of the tradition of excellence the school system has enjoyed for more than a century.

Among the school system's amenities is a centralized 150-acre campus that houses four schools serving about 4,000 students: Carrollton High School (9-12), Carrollton Junior High (6-8), Carrollton Middle School (4-5) and Carrollton Elementary (PreK-3). Each of these schools, and the school system as a whole, made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the 2005-2006 school year, an impressive accomplishment as No Child Left Behind federal and state standards continue to raise the performance bar each year.

Carrollton City Schools also enjoy a seamless connection to the community. Business partnerships and parental involvement are at an all-time high, while local support of a school sales tax has allowed the system to build some of the best public school facilities in the state.

Carrollton High School, a three-time Georgia School of Excellence award winner, is recognized across the state and in many national arenas as an innovative, "break the mold" learning environment, as recently noted in recognitions by Redbook Magazine and U.S. News & World Report. Students experience hands-on educational opportunities that make what they learn relevant to their world. State-of-the-art vocational labs allow them to experience work in industries such as broadcasting, printing, engineering, research and development. A collaboration with nearby State University of West Georgia allows high-achieving students the opportunity to attend college before they graduate.

Carrollton Junior High School, named a Georgia School of Excellence in 1994 and 2001 and a National School of Excellence in 2001, serves sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Emphasis is placed on merging the technologically advanced facility with innovative teaching techniques to meet the needs of each student. The result is a rigorous academic program, validated by high standardized test scores, plus a wide offering of classroom experiences that enhance the overall curriculum.

Carrollton Middle School opened its doors for the first time in the 2005-2006 school year and serves grades fourth and fifth. CMS already has earned a reputation as a school devoted to the fine arts, with strong band, strings, music and visual arts programs well in place.

Opened in 1992, Carrollton Elementary School provides teachers with instructional tools that bring learning to life. Though one of the largest elementary schools in the state, administrative support at each grade level creates a smaller-school atmosphere that is more conducive to learning. In fact, recent test scores placed CES as one of the top-performing schools in the state for improving academic achievement, garnering attention from the governor and state school superintendent.

Media support is exceptional in Carrollton City Schools; the CES media center was named Exemplary Elementary Media Program by the state Department of Education in 2004 and Carrollton Junior High received the same honor in 2005 for middle schools.

The Carrollton City Schools' reputation as a technologically advanced system with its own fiber-optic network is one of the key reasons the Carrollton City Schools Education Foundation, through a collaboration with the Carrollton Housing Authority and the City of Carrollton, spearheaded the school-to-home computer network project EmpowerLink, the only one of its kind in the nation. EmpowerLink connects the homes of school-age children in one of the city's public housing complexes directly to the school system's fiber-optic network. Plans are to expand the project throughout the city.

Carrollton City Schools encourage their students to participate in extracurricular programs to round out their educational experience. Championship athletic teams, nationally acclaimed band programs, chorus, drama and debate teams and student organizations offer a niche for everyone. In fact, the school system encourages students to be committed to excel in all "three A's" - academics, arts and athletics.

Teachers, administrators and staff members participate in rigorous training programs that go beyond state requirements. Teacher Institute, an innovative program designed to help new teachers succeed, is an induction program that exceeds the standards set by most school systems nationwide.

The school system provides transportation for students who reside in the city limits. Other systemwide programs include those for children with special needs, learning disabilities, behavior, vision or speech problems, multi-handicapped and hospital/homebound.

Community volunteerism is strong, with booster organizations supporting academic, band, and athletic programs. Carrollton Elementary's volunteer program produces about 500 hours of volunteer support each week from parents, grandparents and community members. Strong volunteer programs have been established at the junior high and high school as well.

Recognizing the school system's caliber, SchoolMatch, an independent nationwide consulting service, listed Carrollton City Schools among only 15 percent of school districts nationwide to receive the What Parents Want Award for offering the amenities and requirements parents look for in educational options.

For more information about the Carrollton City Schools, contact the superintendent's office at 770-832-9633.