District News

The Georgia Department of Education recently released the school, district, and state level SAT scores for the Class of 2022. Jefferson High School earned a mean SAT composite score of 1102, which surpasses both state and national averages. The Jefferson City School System ranks 9th in the state based on these results. JHS has outscored the national public school average by 74 points and the state public school average by 50 points. According to the Georgia Department of Education, this is the fifth year in a row that Georgia public schools have outperformed the national SAT score average.

The Jefferson City School System is proud to announce that Jefferson Elementary School has been recognized as a 2022 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 297 schools as recipients of the National Blue Ribbon Schools award.

The Jefferson High School Air Force JROTC conducted the annual Patriots Day Ceremony earlier today. The Jefferson Fire Department, Jefferson Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Jefferson Mayor and Councilmen, among other veterans and first responders, were in attendance at the special event.

Sixteen students from JHS earned national recognition from the College Board National Recognition Programs. Having this designation identifies these students as being academically exceptional when applying for college. JCS salutes these students for their hard work and effort and applauds their achievement.

The Jefferson City FFA program was recently named a Gold Emblem Chapter by the National Chapter Award Program, which is designed to recognize FFA chapters that excel. The National FFA Organization aims "to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education."

The Georgia Department of Education has released the 2021-2022 Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) and End of Course (EOC) assessment results. Jefferson City Schools had an average well above that of the state of Georgia on all EOG and EOC assessments, ranking as the #1 school system in the Northeast Georgia RESA district in 10 out of 19 content assessments.

We are so excited to release the 2021-2022 Annual Report. This document showcases last school year and all the amazing things that happened across our school system. Please take a moment to look through the Annual Report. 

We are excited about the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. The following information will be helpful as your family prepares for the beginning of school. Our staff members look forward to welcoming students back to school on Friday, July 29, 2022! Please read through the following Back-to-School Guide. 

Congratulations to our Head Women's Soccer Coach Molly McCarty for being named the State Coach of the Year for the small public school division by the United Soccer Coaches Association. There is no blueprint to success. She jumps right in, rolls her sleeves up, and works to make everything she touches better. Coach McCarty exemplifies the Jefferson City Schools' commitment to excellence.

The Class of 2022 commencement exercises will take place on Friday, May 20th, at Jefferson Memorial Stadium. Gates will open at 6:30 pm, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 8:00 pm. You can click here to watch the live stream. 

The Jefferson City School System is proud to announce that Ezra Crumley has been hired as the next Head Varsity Men’s Soccer Coach at Jefferson High School. Coach Crumley brings seven successful years of head coaching experience with him to Jefferson. From 2018 to 2022, Coach Crumley served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Lanier High School, where he won a Region Championship in 2021. Before his time at Lanier High School, Coach Crumley was the head coach for East Jackson High School from 2015 until 2017, where he finished as a region runner-up and led his team to a sweet 16 appearance. Please join our new Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Ezra Crumley, at a “meet and greet” on May 26, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jefferson Field House.

The Jefferson City School System is proud to announce that Kyle Hardy has been hired as the next Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Jefferson High School. This past week, Coach Hardy was approved unanimously at the May Board of Education meeting. Please join our new Head Baseball Coach, Kyle Hardy, at a “meet and greet” on May 24, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Jefferson High School Arena lobby.

Summer sports camps will begin at the end of this month. To see the complete list of options, please click the title above. 

For the second year in a row, Jefferson High School has earned national recognition as one of the 2022 Best High Schools in a U.S. News report. Ranked 40th in the state of Georgia, Jefferson High School earned its spot in the national rankings with an overall score of 89.57 out of 100.

Join us Saturday, April 23rd, for a Spring Family Day and Art Show at the Wetlands from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Transportation will be provided from Jefferson Memorial Stadium throughout the day. Bring your rain boots, and be prepared to get your feet wet! We hope to see you there. 

Jefferson Elementary School is excited to announce that all Pre-K through 2nd-grade students will "Read with Malcolm" at the JHS Arena on Monday, April 18th. We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Jefferson City School System Foundation for sponsoring this Reading Rally and providing every child with a copy of My Very Favorite Book, written by Malcolm Mitchell. Visit https://www.readwithmalcolm.com/ to learn more about Malcolm Mitchell and the Share the Magic Foundation.

Happy National Assistant Principals Week to all of our incredible APs! Your leadership brightens our schools each day, and we are so appreciative of your impact on helping students and staff reach excellence. These leaders play a dynamic role and provide a support system to our students, teachers, and principals. If one of these individuals has impacted your life, we encourage you to write them a thank you letter or reach out and let them know how they have brightened your future.

The Jefferson Elementary School Pre-K registration deadline has been extended until April 15th! JCS is excited to announce that we now have 8 fully funded Pre-K classes, all of which will continue to be housed at JES. In addition, Mrs. Beckwith has been named the Director of Early Learning. In her new role, she will be overseeing the Pre-K program and coordinating services, resources, and training opportunities for families with children ages birth to three years old. PLUS will be available to those students who need afterschool care. We would love to have you be a part of Jefferson City Schools! Registration information can be found here. 

March 14-18, 2022, is Georgia School Boards Appreciation Week. Jefferson City Schools would like to publicly thank our board of education members for their dedication to public education and continual support of our school system. Their work builds a strong collaborative community between the schools, parents, and community leaders so that students receive a quality education.

JCS interview with Jim Scott on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Marcayla Hester on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Mr. Fred Wilson on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS feature of the late Rev. Julius Mack on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Ms. Brenda Cox Smith on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Ericka Johnson on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Ms. Heather Robinson on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Ms. Annette Studivant on celebrating Black History Month. 

JCS interview with Ms. Mary Burley on celebrating Black History Month. 

The Jefferson City School System is proud to announce that Travis Noland has been hired as the next Head Varsity Football Coach at Jefferson High School. Coach Noland was approved unanimously at a called Board of Education meeting this afternoon. After seven winning seasons as the head football coach at Oconee County High School, JCS is excited to see what he will accomplish with our Dragons.

JCS interview with Ms. Ranata Pittman on celebrating Black History Month. 

Dragon Day 2022! Students in the 5th and 8th grades got to experience what it would be like at their new school next year. 8th graders were welcomed at JHS by the counseling staff and given a glimpse of what to expect as freshmen. Student leaders walked groups of students around to classrooms, and they were even able to see a short performance in the PAC.

5th graders were welcomed into the cafeteria at the middle school and enjoyed a hot lunch while they heard from the administration. Students were then led around the building by student leaders and taken in classrooms, and given the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the transition to middle school. Thank you to all of the administrators and counselors who helped organize this fun-filled day for our students!

JCS interview with Mr. Brooks Benton on celebrating Black History Month. 

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!

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. 

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.