Flu Vaccine Offered for Houston County Students & Employees ~ Free for Children

The Houston County Health Department and Board of Education have partnered for the 12th year to offer a free flu vaccine at school to students and employees. The flu shot is being offered at 42 sites between Oct. 21 and Nov. 19.

This year, the Houston County Health Department will also host three drive-thru flu shot clinics, specifically for Houston County students enrolled in distance learning. Students are required to bring a completed flu shot consent form to receive the vaccination.

Please check out the news release for the full schedule.  

Vaccinations will be provided at no out-of-pocket expense for employees who are covered by Medicaid, Peachcare, Medicare, Wellcare, Aetna, Amerigroup, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Coventry or Tricare. The flu vaccine has been offered on school campuses since 2008.

To read the complete news release, please click here. 

Houston County’s SAT Scores Beat U.S. and State 4^th Year in a Row

For the fourth consecutive year, Houston County’s SAT scores have outperformed the nation and state.  The College Board recently released the SAT scores for the Class of 2020.  Houston County’s students earned a mean total score of 1,060, higher than the nation by 30 points and above the state by 17 points. 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Scott commented, “Congratulations to our graduates on their SAT scores!  We are proud of our students, especially considering the fact that many of them took the test in a time of uncertainty and high-stress due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.  We are also pleased that our students have outperformed the nation and state for four years in a row.”

Houston County outperformed their peers in public schools across the nation by 17 points in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and by 13 points in math. A total of 953 Houston County students took the SAT in 2020. The 2020 average scores are provided for the district, state and nation. 

To read the complete news release, please click here. 

31 Gifted & Talented Education Teachers Honored

Thirty-one teachers of gifted and talented students from 13 schools were honored Sept. 9, 2020, via a virtual reception through Zoom. Each honoree received $500 and a certificate as a recipient of the Houston County Education Assistance Fund on behalf of the Manoj H. Shah family. Refreshments were also delivered to them at their school.

To learn more about each of the honorees, please visit the Gifted and Talented Education webpage, www.hcbe.net/giftedandtalented,  and view the2020-2021 honoree presentation.

“Dr. and Mrs. Shah were very pleased with the education their three children received from Warner Robins High School in Houston County,” commented Olethia Thomas, Director of Gifted Education and Advanced Placement Coordinator. “The Shahs are strong supporters of education in general, and of gifted and honors education specifically. This annual award is their way of supporting our dedicated gifted and talented education teachers, which greatly benefits our students. We are truly appreciative of their ongoing support.”

To read the complete news release, please click here. 

Free Meals for All Children through Dec. 31

On Aug. 31, 2020, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced the extension of several waivers that allows the Houston County School Nutrition Program to provide free meals for all children through Dec. 31, 2020. The school district is offering free meals for all children ages 18 and under. Any child, whether enrolled in the district, homeschooled, or too young to be enrolled in school, is able to receive meals at no charge. 

Free breakfasts and lunches will be provided for all students who attend school on campus, as well as all other children who live in the community. Parents/guardians may pick up meals at any of the district’s middle schools or high schools on Wednesdays between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.

For more information, please visit www.hcbe.net/freemeals.

To read the complete news release, please click here. Para leer la versión en español, haga clic aquí.

Houston County Schools Named Georgia's Best Employer

The Houston County School District has been named the best employer in the state of Georgia by Forbes.  Of 100 large employers in the state, the District is in first place.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Scott commented, "Our recruiting campaign is titled, 'Land the Job You Love' because we believe our employees are our most important resource.  Being recognized as the 'Best Employer in the State' is affirmation that our employees love their job and the people they work alongside.  The members of the Houston County Board of Education make our employees a priority throughout the school year, but more importantly, during budget time by providing a competitive salary and benefit package.  Although we have over 4,000 full-time employees, we still meet with new hires individually to provide an orientation and answer questions.  Our people work hard every day to produce high-achieving students and make our school system world class!"

To read the complete news release, please click here.