11 Bibb County schools recognized by state for ‘Beating the Odds’ student achievement

MACON, Georgia (KBTV) — Eleven schools in the Bibb County School District have earned state recognition for outperforming expectations and helping students succeed despite challenges often associated with demographics and socioeconomic factors.

The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) recently released its latest “Beating the Odds” analysis, highlighting Georgia schools that exceeded performance expectations based on the state’s 2025 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).

Among the schools recognized were nine elementary schools, one middle school and one high school:
• Bernd Elementary School
• Bruce Elementary School
• Burdell-Hunt Elementary School
• Sonny Carter Elementary School
• Ingram-Pye Elementary School
• McKibben Lane Elementary School
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
• Southfield Elementary School
• L.H. Williams Elementary School
• Miller Magnet Middle School
• Howard High School

District leaders say the recognition reflects the hard work taking place in classrooms across Bibb County.
“Our school teams are working hard each and every day to achieve success for all of our students, and these ‘Beating the Odds’ designations are proof positive of that work,” Superintendent Dr. Dan A. Sims said in a statement.

Sims added that the district remains focused on preparing students for success after graduation, whether that means college, careers or other opportunities.
“We will continue to seek ways to make sure that our students are prepared for their next level, whatever that may be, and we are grateful to see these schools receiving state-level recognition for their dedication,” Sims said.
According to GOSA, the “Beating the Odds” designation is awarded to schools that perform better than other schools across Georgia with similar demographics. Factors considered include socioeconomic status, race, student disability and other characteristics.
Using that data, GOSA creates an expected range of CCRPI scores for comparable schools. Schools that score above that expected range are designated as “Beating the Odds.”

The recognition spans all grade levels and highlights schools that are helping students achieve at higher levels than statistical models would predict.
For Bibb County educators and students, district leaders say the honor is another sign that their efforts are producing results.