District News

Jefferson High School would like to announce that Head Football Coach Gene Cathcart has accepted the position of Head Football Coach at Batesburg-Leesville High School in South Carolina. Coach Cathcart has served as the head coach for the Jefferson Dragons football team for the last five years. Under his leadership, the team had an overall record of 52-11, winning back-to-back region championships, and finished as the State AAAA Runner-Up in 2020.

JHS hosted an Early College Signing Day on December 15th for three football players who committed to furthering their academic and athletic careers at a Division 1 level. Congratulations to the following athletes:

Jamarcus Hill - Southeast Missouri State University

Jordan Perry - Kansas State University

Kadin Bailey - Syracuse University

Not pictured is Malaki Starks who signed in a private setting earlier in the day to the University of Georgia.

The Jefferson City Schools Board of Education was recently named a Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) Governance Team of the Year for 2021. This prestigious award recognizes three Georgia public school districts’ board of education and superintendent teams who achieved all-around excellence in their district. The award is given based on three categories of school district size which are: small, 1-3,000 students, medium, 3,001-10,000 students, and large, 10,000 plus students.

Congratulations to our JHS Competition Cheer Dragons for bringing home the Class AAAA State Championship! These young ladies have worked so hard to earn this title. Congratulations to all of the coaches and cheerleaders for their persistence and hard work. We are so proud of you!

Jefferson City Schools is proud to announce that our Board of Education has been awarded the Georgia School Boards Association’s (GSBA) 2021 Exemplary School Board recognition. The GSBA Governance Team Recognition is a three-tiered program that was established by Georgia Superintendents and board members based on the state board of education’s standards for effective governance to recognize exemplary leadership. The “Exemplary” status is the highest tier of recognition a school board can earn, and our Board of Education has earned this designation since 2016.

Sunday, November 7th is Retired Educators Day. We are so thankful for all of our retired educators who have made lasting impacts on our school system. We will always remember the difference you have made! 

Jefferson City Schools is proud to announce Conner Coile and Katherine Law as the 2021 Homecoming King and Queen. These two students represent JCS extremely well through their many involvements and accomplishments.

The Georgia Department of Education recently released the 2021 four-year cohort graduation rates. Jefferson City Schools recorded a graduation rate of 97.6 percent, which was well above the state average of 83.7 percent. To calculate a four-year cohort graduation rate as recorded above, the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma must be divided by the number of students who form the cohort for the graduating class.

Join us on October 25th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM in the JHS Performing Arts Center for an informational parent night. We will have guest speakers discussing the dangers of social media, drug awareness, bullying, and vaping. Open to all 6-12th grade parents. We hope to see you there!

Jefferson City Schools is proud to announce that Jefferson Middle School has been recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. All schools, both public and private, are eligible for this prestigious award based on outstanding school performance and may only be nominated once every five years. Earlier today, Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, announced 325 schools as recipients of the National Blue Ribbon Schools award. Click above to read the full story.

The Georgia Department of Education recently released the school, district, and state-level SAT scores for the Class of 2021. Jefferson High School earned a mean SAT composite score of 1123, which exceeds both state and national averages. Click the above link to continue reading.

The Jefferson High School Airforce JROTC conducted the annual 9/11 presentation on Friday, September 10, 2021, at 8:45 AM. Special community guests in attendance were the members from the Jefferson Fire Department, Jefferson Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Jefferson Mayor and Councilmen, among other veterans, first responders, and community members.

Read the full story here. Watch the recording here.

The Georgia Department of Education recently released the 2020-2021 Georgia Milestones End of Grade and End of Course Assessment results. Jefferson City Schools ranks among the top in the area and state of Georgia. Read the full press release here. 

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, Jefferson City Schools is proud to release the 2020-2021 Annual Report. JCS is extremely thankful for all of our staff, students, parents, and community members that made this past school year possible. This report highlights all of the components contributing to our legacy of educational excellence.

We look forward to starting the 2021-2022 school year next week!

Click the image below to read the annual report. 

Jefferson High School Named a National Best School

Board Appreciation Week

Tribute to Our BOE Members

Board Appreciation Week

Tribute to Our BOE Members

Board Appreciation Week

Tribute to Our BOE Members

Board Appreciation Week

Tribute to Our BOE Members

Board Appreciation Week

Tribute to Our BOE Members

Board Appreciation Week

Tribute to Our BOE Members

Jefferson High School Named AP Honor Schools in Multiple Categories

JCS Celebrates National Nutrition Month

Interview with Retired JES Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Mary Williamson-Burley

Interview with Director of Federal Programs & System Test Coordinator, Dr. Angela Vinson

Interview with JCS Board Vice Chairman, Mr. Willie Hughey

JHS February 3D Winners

Interview with Former JCS Educator, Mrs. Doris Brown

Rising 9th Grade Dragon Day

Congratulations to the JHS 3D Award Winners for January 2021! 

Congratulations to the JHS 3D Award Winners for December 2020! 

FoodFinder is a mobile and web app that allows families to find food distribution sites (including food pantries, drive-through distributions, and school meal providers) based on location.

Please be mindful of the School Zone Automated Photo Speed Enforcement Program coming to our District. The enforcement will begin Wednesday, December 16, 2020. A warning period will be given until February 1, 2021.

Jefferson Academy students in Ms. Lori Gunter's and Ms. Jean Connor’s 4th grade classes were named winners of the 2020 Fire Safety Poster Contest sponsored by the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. 

Located outside the front of Jefferson High School is a newly placed memorial bench in honor of former staff member Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Leigh, who worked for Bryan High and Jefferson High for a combined 50 years.

The Jefferson City Board of Education recently held its annual fall board retreat at the Memorial Stadium Field House to review the school year leading up to 2021, plan ahead for growth, and train for school board improvements among stakeholders. 

The Jefferson Board of Education was nominated for the 2020 Governance Team of the Year Award and named a winner of the 2020 Leading Edge Award by the Georgia School Boards Association.

Jefferson High School will be administering Georgia Milestones assessments beginning Friday, December 11, and ending on Wednesday, December 16. 

Jefferson Middle School teacher, Tracy Pratt, was named a winner of the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation Bright Ideas Grant Program for an English Learners Lab at JMS. 

Jefferson City Schools, Partners in Education, key community members, and parents worked together to thank staff for working hard to ensure safe and healthy in-person education. 

Jefferson Middle School has announced Dragon Award of Excellence recipients for the first quarter.

Jefferson City Schools’ four-year graduation rate for 2020 is 99.3%, as announced by the Georgia Department of Education.

Jefferson High School Future Business Leaders of America students are selling Diamond-J blankets in time for the holiday season. All proceeds benefit FBLA.

Congratulations to the JHS 3D Award Winners for November 2020! 

Jefferson Academy 5th grade Extended Learning Time classes will begin auctioning off handmade holiday creations Monday, November 16, at 4:00 pm. Proceeds will benefit The Tree House of Winder.

Penguin Patch® Holiday Shop is a fun way for students to shop for family members and experience the spirit of giving while learning to earn, budget, and save! The online shop will be open from 11/13 to 11/20 with more than. 100 gifts to choose from ranging from $0.52 to $12.00.

Congratulations to Abbey Howard, 12th grade, who was selected as the JHS Rotary Student of the Month for November. 

Jefferson City Schools honored Veterans Day with virtual and socially distanced ceremonies. 

Jefferson City Schools FFA is holding their annual chicken mull fundraiser. All proceeds benefit the Jefferson City FFA Chapter. 

At the request of the officials association, the Varsity Dragons football team will play at Home Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7:00pm against Chestatee High School; the JV Dragons football team will play at Hart County Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30pm.

Jefferson Middle School Principal Melanie Sigler and Assistant Principal Adria Whitworth were honored at the 2020 Georgia Association of Middle School Principals Awards for their outstanding leadership.

JHS graduate (2017), Will Kellum, competed for the National American Star Award in Agribusiness at the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo Wednesday evening.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation donated $5,000 to the Jefferson/Jackson County Robotics Program Monday. 

The Lady Dragons Cross Country team won the Region 8 AAAA Championship at North Oconee Saturday.

Jefferson High School students Jack Alexander and Kailani Restrepo were crowned the Homecoming King and Queen at Friday night's varsity football game against Cedar Shoals.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation was recognized as the 2020 Work Based Learning Business Partner of the Year at October's Board of Education meeting Wednesday.

Mrs. Suzanne Slaughter was awarded the Positive Partner Award from Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency at October's Board of Education meeting Wednesday.

Oct. 19 - Oct. 23 is recognized as National School Bus Appreciation Week. 

The Jefferson Middle School Cross Country team earned the Grand Champions title at the Middle School State Championship meet on Saturday.

The Dragon Regiment Marching Band was named the winners of the 2020 Lake Hartwell Marching Festival Silver Division for class 1A on Saturday.

The Jefferson City Schools band program is hosting a 5k in Jefferson on Oct. 31st. Walkers and runners are welcome to join. This is a no scares, family fun, trail event! We hope to see you there!

Jefferson High School outperformed the national and state public school average on the SAT and ranked top five in the state for 2020.

Jackson County Family Connection will begin accepting applications for holiday assistance near the end of October through mid November. 

Congratulations to Jefferson High School's October 3-D Award Winners for 2020! 

Students in Ms. Gunter's 4th grade class were named winners of the 2020 Georgia Department of Insurance Fire Safety Poster Contest.

Mark your calendars for Nov. 7th and spend a morning outside with us for the 3rd annual fall waterway cleanup! Registration is mandatory due to COVID-19.

JCS School Nutrition encourages all families to fill out a free and reduced meals application. Applications help support the entire school system. 

Jefferson High School offers several opportunities to students that help pave the way for college and career entry, including Pathways, Dual Enrollment, and Work-Based Learning.

JMS will hold the 2020 Goats n Ghosts Dairy Goat Show on Oct. 30-31. See the attached flyer and link for details.  

Jefferson Academy purchased the Ambient Weather Station, a new learning tool for students that stores weather data and trends.

Jefferson High School student and cheerleader, Brynn Sims, was named an All State Cheerleader for 2020-2021.

The Jefferson City School District ranked among the top school systems in the state of Georgia, according to BackgroundCheck.org, a free resource and database for public records. 

Jefferson High School's ROTC program held their annual 9/11 Remembrance ceremony to honor those lives taken on September 11, 2001.

Jefferson Academy donated Clorox wipes to Amazon following the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazon has generously returned the donation to JA with triple the amount of wipes.

"The Jefferson City School System has a long and distinguished tradition dating back for more than 200 years. We are delighted that you have chosen to visit our website for information regarding the district."

The Jefferson City School System ranks among the top school systems in the state of Georgia and is the No. 1 best school district in Jackson County, according to consumer data analysis company, Niche.