Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy was honored as one of the top public charter high schools in the state Thursday.
The all-girls public charter school was one of two schools named an "Overall High School Changemaker" by the Tennessee Charter School Center, the organization's highest designation for public charter high schools. The school was also one of three public charter high schools designated as a "Trailblazer Changemaker," which recognizes schools where at least half of the students identified as economically disadvantaged.
The school was selected based on its student growth scores, ready graduate rates and college-going rates.
In 2022, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy had the state's highest ready graduate rate, or the rate at which students graduate while also having achieved milestones associated with college and career readiness, at 91.9%, according to the organization. Its four-year change in ready graduate rates was also in the top 3% of all public schools.
(READ MORE: How this all-girls public charter school in Chattanooga worked to raise ACT scores)
These achievements caused the Tennessee Charter School Center to publish an in-depth review and case study of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. The report recognized the school's focus on college and career readiness through its college visits, mentoring program and ACT preparation as well as its commitment to removing barriers to student success.
Chattanooga Preparatory School was also honored by the organization. The all-boys public charter school was one of three schools designated as a "Rising Star," which recognizes newer public charter high schools that don't yet have graduation or postsecondary data. The school welcomed its first 11th grade class earlier this week.
— Compiled by Shannon Coan