With the start of the new school year just weeks away, Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Dr. Keith McGee says the district is on schedule to welcome students into its new junior high and high school buildings while celebrating several recent accomplishments.
McGee said construction and the move into the new facilities are in the final stages, with classrooms being furnished and technology installed. District officials expect all classrooms to be ready before students return.
The superintendent also highlighted significant academic progress. Watson Chapel reported an increase in the percentage of students earning qualifying scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, allowing more students to earn college credit while still in high school. The district also saw scholarship offers to graduating seniors increase substantially from the previous year.
Another milestone announced this week is the district’s release from decades of federal court oversight related to a desegregation case. Watson Chapel has achieved unitary status, meaning the district is no longer subject to federal monitoring after meeting the required standards.
McGee also reported that the district remains in stable financial condition despite the cost of the new construction project. He said Watson Chapel expects additional state partnership funding and plans to rebuild its building fund and operating reserves. The district has also reduced teacher vacancies from more than a dozen at this time last year to only a couple of openings as the new school year approaches.
