Jackie Wallace's non-nonsense approach to teaching has helped Lincoln County make the list of the top 15 school systems in the state with the highest percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards on the eight-grade math CRCT. LCMS is ranked 14th among the top 15 school systems in Georgia with the highest percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards on the eighth-grade math CRCT (Criterion Referenced Competency Test).

The main reason for this is Jackie Wallace, a hard-driving eighth-grade math teacher at LCMS.

According to a spokesman for the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), "Georgia's eight-grade math CRCT is a test that has special importance as a gateway in the state's assessment system; students must either pass it or successfully appeal to their school system to be promoted to the ninth grade.

"The test also factors into middle schools' AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) calculations under the 'No Child Left Behind Act.'"

After three years of preparation, piloting, and teacher training on the new eighth-grade Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), the stakes were raised for both students and schools this year. Students were asked to learn a more rigorous curriculum and also to get more items correct on the test to earn a passing score.

The GaDOE spokesman went on to say, "Courses previously taught in grades 6-8 were extremely repetitious, addressing almost the same content in all three grades. Expectations for students' learning were not clear and in most cases, demanded only low-level cognitive skills.

"Under the new GPS, by the time students have finished eighth grade, they should have learned 80 percent of the concepts and skills previously taught in Algebra 1, 50 percent of the content traditionally taught in high school geometry, and a significant amount of statistics and probability previously taught in high school courses."

Wallace makes sure her students are exposed to these advanced courses while in the eighth grade.

"Implementing the new math curriculum in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades during the past three years has been a challenge for everyone, so being recognized as 14th in the state for having the highest percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards on the eighth-grade math CRCT was a huge accomplishment," said Brian Campbell, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Lincoln County.

"This recognition proves that our teachers in the middle school implemented that new curriculum and prepared our students to exceed on the CRCT. We especially appreciate the high standards that Mrs. Wallace holds her students to, which are evident by their performance on the CRCT.

"We are extremely proud of LCMS, Mrs. Wallace, and the students in the class of 2012," Campbell concluded.

The other school systems listed in the top 15 were Trion City Schools, Webster County, Forsyth County, Schley County, Oconee County, Jefferson City Schools, Miller County, Fayette County, Pierce County, Buford City Schools, Banks County, Houston County, Gwinnett County, and Monroe County.

Campbell pointed that no school in the CSRA made the list.