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Board approves Columbus Career and College Academy school improvement plan
Summary
The Columbus County Board of Education voted to approve the school improvement plan for Columbus Career and College Academy after a presentation on enrollment, academic performance and workforce partnerships.
The Columbus County Board of Education approved the school improvement plan for Columbus Career and College Academy (CCCA) after a presentation from school leaders detailing enrollment, academic performance trends and workforce partnerships.
Christian Godwin, principal at Columbus Career and College Academy, and Robin Gore, an English teacher at CCCA, outlined the school’s current enrollment (228 students), staffing (13 teachers) and student demographics, including approximately 15% identified as academically or intellectually gifted (AIG). The presentation reviewed recent academic gains — improved proficiency rates in Math I, Math III and English II, and growth in Biology — and noted the school narrowly missed median growth last year with a growth index of negative 2.09.
School leaders described a set of action steps in the improvement plan: targeted student engagement through project‑based learning, data‑driven PLC planning, scheduling changes to deliver foundational classes for students not proficient on prior EOG assessments, an ACT prep offering for juniors and a pull‑forward of physical science into the fall to support spring biology outcomes. The plan also sets attendance goals (a target of 94% consistent daily attendance) and states a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.7% (31 students missed 10 or more days); 15 students had 10 or more unexcused days (6.5%), and six students missed 15 or more unexcused days.
A workforce goal in the plan aims to increase documented workforce experience to 85% for students who do not transfer to college, and presenters described apprenticeship and internship partnerships with Southeastern Community College and local industry in fields including welding, HVAC, agribusiness, mechatronics, IT, building construction and automotive. Leaders said two students were already in internships and eight were scheduled for interviews with industry partners.
The board voted to approve the plan. Superintendent Beck recommended approval; the motion to approve was made by a board member and seconded, and the chair called for the ayes. The board recorded the motion as carried.
Why it matters: The plan ties academic strategies to scheduling and CTE partnerships intended to raise achievement and workforce readiness. Approving the plan permits the school to proceed with the described scheduling changes and partnership development.
