Nearly a dozen Gwinnett County high schools were named 2021 GreatSchools College Success Award winners. The honor recognizes and celebrates public high schools across the country that exceled at helping students enroll and succeed in college. This year GreatSchools added an additional, elevated level of distinction— the College Success Award – Gold. This honor is given to schools with a multiyear track record of preparing students to enroll and succeed in college. Eleven Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) high schools earned the Gold honor. The following schools were recognized:

School	Award	Rating
Archer HS	College Success Award - Gold	7/10
Brookwood HS	College Success Award - Gold	8/10
Dacula HS	College Success Award - Gold	6/10
Grayson HS	College Success Award - Gold	8/10
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST)	College Success Award - Gold	9/10
Lanier HS	College Success Award - Gold	6/10
Mill Creek HS	College Success Award - Gold	8/10
Mountain View HS	College Success Award - Gold	6/10
North Gwinnett HS	College Success Award - Gold	9/10
Parkview HS	College Success Award - Gold	7/10
Peachtree Ridge HS	College Success Award - Gold	7/10

GreatSchools recognized 1,838 public schools in 25 states. The GCPS high schools are among a group of 86 in Georgia who earned a College Success Award – Gold in 2021. This unique award, based on high school and postsecondary data provided by state education agencies, offers a snapshot of whether a high school prepares students to enroll in college, succeed with college-level coursework, and persist into their second year. School, district, and state education leaders in these 25 states were undeterred by the pandemic’s challenges and provided the critical data transparency needed to help communities understand paths to success from high school to college.

As the pandemic continues to disproportionately impact learning within historically marginalized student  groups, understanding proven practices worthy of potential investment is critical. GreatSchools’ recent report, Strategies for Postsecondary Success, surveyed school leaders in states that have provided multiple years of postsecondary data to understand what practices contribute to their success.

Dr. Dana Pugh, principal of Grayson High School, is proud that Grayson High is a four-time College Success Award recipient and inaugural Gold awardee. “A great school is one that serves all students well,” said Dr. Pugh. “Earning our fourth consecutive College Success Award is a testament to the entire Grayson community’s commitment to preparing our scholars for college. Our school is proof that providing students opportunities to take challenging courses, engage in deeper thinking, and explore college options early can set them on a path to lifelong success.”

In addition to building demand for greater data transparency, the College Success Award serves as a repository of excellence in high school education from which GreatSchools has identified best practices, conducted research, and shared stories from principals, parents, and teachers at schools doing an exceptional job of serving students from low-income families. Explore the Award methodology and browse the full list of winners at https://bit.ly/3o42JbT.