HCS Opens School Year Focused on Nurturing a Culture of Student and Family Success
HENRY COUNTY, GA – As Henry County Schools families prepare for the first day of school on Aug. 1, around 6,000 district- and school-based employees have been working diligently to ensure an exceptional school year for each of nearly 44,000 anticipated students.
“The 2024-2025 school year will see many objectives established under the 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan take shape or fully materialize,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Carl Knowlton. “One highly anticipated outcome of the Strategic Plan goals was the construction of Birch Creek Elementary School, which was completed on target and will open its doors on day one along with our other 52 schools.”
HCS held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Birch Creek Elementary School on July 30. Located at 850 Willow Lane in McDonough, the district’s 29th elementary school is expected to welcome an inaugural cohort of around 600 students.
All HCS students return on Thursday, with campuses observing the usual school day hours of 7:35 a.m.-2:15 p.m. for elementary schools, 8:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. for high schools, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for middle schools.
In addition to opening Birch Creek Elementary, the board’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the growing Henry County community is reflected in several initiatives and strategic investments.
Highly qualified district and school leadership is pivotal to HCS’ goal to empower every student and equip them for success. This year, HCS will welcome new principals SeTia Freeman at Bethlehem Elementary, Quavious Wright at Birch Creek Elementary, Cheré Lewis at Eagle's Landing High, Bernard Watts at Fairview Elementary, Dr. Dawn Blackwell at Hickory Flat Elementary, and Dr. LaTonya Richards at Union Grove High School.
Dr. Crystal Williams began her tenure at Dutchtown Middle School in February and will commence her first full year as an HCS principal on Aug. 1.
This year, the district employed 950 new hires, including more than 600 new teachers and 56 new bus drivers. Additionally, the acquisition of 33 new school buses brings the district’s total fleet to 317 buses, with a new westside transportation hub set to open in the spring, creating new efficiencies for the HCS Transportation Department.
HCS has employed competitive hiring and retention efforts, coupled with salary increases, to achieve its Priority Student Outcomes and vision of ensuring a world-class education for every student.
The starting teacher pay of $50,910 represents an increase of $2,500 over last year’s salary and more than $12,000 since 2018. The FY25 budget also includes a 2% salary increase for other salaried employees, as well as targeted increases for specific job families such as bus drivers, paraprofessionals, data clerks, clinic aides, school secretaries, campus monitors, and school nutrition managers.
A record investment of $12,937 per student will help bring HCS closer to its goal of ensuring every student in every corner of the district has every chance to succeed. The impact of board investments can be seen districtwide, from academics to the arts and athletics.
The district ended the 2023-2024 school year with the Georgia Milestones Assessment System reflecting a foundation for the district’s ongoing “Pursuit of Exceptional.” Additionally, more HCS students were identified as gifted-eligible than ever before, and the number of middle schoolers earning high school course credit doubled. Over the recent break, more than 6,000 students participated in summer learning opportunities helping to steer the district toward building on this momentum.
To nurture productive learning environments and further accommodate the needs of a growing school district, HCS continued the latest phase of its districtwide growth and replacement plan over the summer with new furniture installed at Eagle’s Landing High School, Hampton Elementary School, Stockbridge Middle School, and Wesley Lakes Elementary School.
Safeguarding students’ well-being is also critical to maintaining optimal learning environments. The board has prioritized student and staff safety, allocating $30 million since 2018 for multiple layers of security for HCS buildings, including single-point entry, visitor check-in, campus alert systems, mandatory employee badges, secure access and buzzer entry, door-ajar alarms, and increased cameras in schools and buses.
An additional enhancement to safeguarding students and staff this school year is the hiring of 29 Campus Safety Monitors across all elementary schools. This position, which is responsible for maintaining ongoing review of the physical security of a school, was previously implemented at all middle and high schools.
The board’s holistic approach to education extends to mental and physical well-being. In keeping with its Strategic Plan goals to advance student health, wellness, and support structures, the district’s Telehealth Clinic, provided in partnership with Southside Medical Center, became fully operational in April. The clinic offers virtual and in-person services, including immunizations, to help families meet enrollment requirements.
“We are thrilled to have our students, teachers, and staff back at Henry County Schools, and we extend a special welcome to families that are new to the district,” said Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “The Board of Education is excited to see our classrooms once again filled with students and teachers enthusiastic about the future and back to the business of learning.”
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome our students, teachers, and staff to another year focused on educational excellence,” added Dr. Knowlton. “Henry County Schools is committed to advancing a climate and culture conducive to learning, where every student, teacher, and staff member feels empowered to achieve greatness. We look forward to another great year as we continue our work to honor the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of our community.”
In May, HCS held its annual Summer Leadership Conference under the theme “Game On: Coaching Culture So Kids Can Win!” Collaborative and motivational sessions over two days, fueled by the “Game On!” rallying cry, inspired district leaders to re-examine and reaffirm their commitment to students and families in Henry County.
HCS leaders are kicking off the 2024-2025 school year even more determined to create exceptional opportunities, access, and outcomes for every student in every corner of the district.
About Henry County Schools
Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools, including two academies, located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past 20 years, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.
HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.
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