Central Middle School is one of only 24 schools in the nation and the only school in Georgia to be named a 2025 School of Distinction by the Association of Middle Level Education.
The AMLE Schools of Distinction program honors schools that exemplify best practices in middle level education while guiding them through a strategic vision-setting process to drive continuous improvement. Grounded in AMLE’s foundational position paper, The Successful Middle School: This We Believe (now in its fifth edition and 43rd year), the program evaluates schools on their implementation of research-based criteria tailored to young adolescents.
“We congratulate faculty, staff, students and administrators at Central Middle School for setting a standard of excellence that is not only recognized locally but also at a national level,” Superintendent Scott Cowart said. “All six middle schools in Carroll County showed significant growth last year in student performance, and we are proud of the way that Central Middle is leading the way.”
Central Middle earned the prestigious SOD honor through a rigorous review process, including a comprehensive school-wide assessment, continuous improvement planning, and stakeholder interviews with staff, students, and families. The evaluation highlighted future-focused initiatives, agriculture education, data-informed and personalized learning, STEM education and the media center as standout strengths, among others
“Being named an AMLE National Middle School of Distinction is a tremendous honor and a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of our teachers, students, staff, and entire community,” Central Middle School Principal Colleen Jones said. “It validates the hard work of teachers, students, staff, and parents, reinforcing the belief that their efforts are making a significant difference, and it reflects our mindset of excellence. It also provides the school with a platform to share its successful practices with other educators globally, solidifying its position as a leader in middle school education.”
Central Middle School serves around 1,000 students in the Central Cluster receiving students from four elementary schools and sending students to Central High School.
“The AMLE Schools of Distinction Committee extends its heartfelt congratulations to Central Middle School on this well-deserved recognition! We look forward to celebrating their innovative practices at our annual conference in November and learning from their success,” Katie Johnson, Chair of the AMLE Schools of Distinction Committee, said. “I deeply appreciate the support and collaboration of all school stakeholders, committee members, and AMLE staff in this year’s selection process.”
As a 2025 School of Distinction, Central Middle joins a network of exemplary middle schools featured in AMLE’s searchable online database, showcasing their promising practices through detailed profiles and videos. The school will present its achievements live at AMLE’s 52nd annual conference November 5-8 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
