The Clayton County School System is always striving for excellence and, even though it has not reached that plateau yet, it is much further along than it was a year ago.

This was how Clayton County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Luvenia Jackson, assessed the school system last week after reaching the approximate midway point of the school year.

“With student achievement being our ultimate objective, we are putting structures in place to support our teachers and our students in that effort,” Jackson said.

“The professional learning keys we have put in place this year will help support the assessments our students receive,” she added.

Jackson believes this school year has shown, and continues to show, the district’s support of student academic achievement more so than in any time in the past.

“We feel student achievement this year will be greater than what our school system has seen,” she added.

In addition to the academic advancement of students, Jackson believes this year has shown the same support guidelines are in place for teacher achievement in their academic goals.

“Additional learning programs are now in place for our teachers,” Jackson stated, “and our school administrators know they also have work to do to advance their skill level.”

The interim superintendent added if the 2012-2013 school year is going to be known for anything, “we want it to be known as the year where we have asked everyone who is in any way involved with our students learning to be as knowledgeable in improving their own skill level as possible, whether they are school board members, cafeteria workers or even our custodians.”

Jackson said school officials continue to closely follow student achievement and curriculum literacy growth throughout the district.

“I am pleased with the improvements we have made in literacy at the elementary, middle and high school levels,” she said, adding that although teaching one way and assessing student achievement in another may have what she termed as, “disconnects,” Clayton County is making strides in closing such disconnects.

As to another aspect of the school curriculum, math, Jackson said the achievements in this area are also not to the point country school officials would like, but strides have been made.

Writing is another academic area where strides are also being made, Jackson said.

“We are pleased with the growth we have seen in writing, especially at the high school level, and I am sure we are doing what is needed to push that achievement to even higher levels,” she said.

“We want to make sure that each of our students has been prepared, academically, to reach the excellent range we want,” Jackson explained.

“One of our main goals is to make sure we have structures in place within the school system to support our student’s academic progress,” she said.