Winder-Barrow High School's Principal: 'We Give Nothing Less than Our Best to Help Students'

One of Barrow County's two public high schools has been identified by the Georgia Department of Education as a "focus school".

"The reason for the Focus School designation for is due to its graduation gap between it's white subgroup and the Students With Disability subgroup," Superintendent Wanda Creel wrote in an e-mail to Barrow Patch.

to read the previous story posted on Barrow Patch. 

The school system issued a press release offering information on the school's designation. 

“While it was disheartening for me to deliver the message to our faculty and staff that WBHS had been identified as a Focus School, we were all sustained by the knowledge that we give nothing less than our best to help students be successful," Al Darby, principal of Winder-Barrow High School, said in the release. "When I walk through the halls of our building daily, I witness teachers tirelessly providing innovative strategies to engage students and ensure student achievement.

"I am extremely proud to be the principal at WBHS," he continued. "Nothing gives me more satisfaction than meeting students on the ‘50-yard line’ each May, shaking their hands, and awarding them their high school diplomas. Meeting every student on the ‘50-yard line’ will continue to be the priority at WBHS. As always, we will face this latest challenge with the same dedication, determination, and desire for student success that guides all we do.”

Winder-Barrow High School's graduation rate was 71.6 percent in 2010 and 76.4 percent in 2011.

“I know that Winder-Barrow High School has already implemented many strategies and is committed to continuing to look for the right coordinated efforts to see our graduation rate for all students increase," Creel said in the release. "Winder-Barrow High School and the Barrow County School System (BCSS) are committed to working together to achieve our desired outcome.”

What do you think the school can do to close the gap between the graduation rates for its white subgroup and its students with disabilities subgroup? What do you think faculty and staff can do to improve the school's overall graduation rate? Tell us in comments.