Dear Parents and Students:

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. We are now well into our second semester, and as we look toward spring, this is a good time to reflect on our progress – both for your student and our school.

As I’ve previously shared, Peachtree Ridge High School was recognized with two state level achievement awards for our Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) performance last year. While we earned AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for our work last year, we are again entering an important accountability cycle and taking steps to effectively prepare our juniors for the upcoming Georgia High School Graduation Tests. Our goal is to increase both our overall passing rates in each test as well as the number of students reaching the “exceeds” category on each test and compete with the very best high schools in the state.

Most recently, we have been recognized as an Advanced Placement Merit school by the Georgia Department of Education. Schools receiving this prestigious designation have at least 20% of their students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams and at least half of the AP exams scoring a “3” or higher. We are proud of our growing Advanced Placement program and will continue working on our goal of each PRHS student enrolling in at least one AP course during their high school career. In fact, 59% of this year’s graduating class has taken at least one AP course, a 12% improvement from last year’s class. When you have a chance, please visit our Wall of Excellence and our Academic Excellence wall, both highlighting our academic progress toward our school’s Mission and Vision.

We know that both schools and students throughout the United States face a global challenge and opportunity. As we sharpen our focus to become The Standard of Excellence in education and help prepare students for their bright futures, our faculty and staff remain committed to our three key initiatives:

--Support engaging bell-to-bell instruction in all classrooms.
--Help all teachers and leaders plan for improved student learning.
--Develop effective safety nets for all PRHS students.

At Peachtree Ridge High School, we plan for success for every student, in every classroom, every day and seek to maximize the profound effect school has on student lives. We will continue working with our colleagues in our feeder elementary and middle schools as we grow a K-12 perspective throughout our cluster, ultimately focused on post-secondary success for each graduate.

Thanks to your ongoing support and commitment to excellence for your student(s), I am confident that we will reach higher levels of achievement in academics, the arts, and athletics. I encourage you to find more ways to become involved in the life of our school – this is your school. We will grow into a great school once each of us makes the commitment to pursue excellence – both inside and outside of the classroom. Our entire faculty and staff are committed to becoming The Standard of Excellence in education. Best wishes for a wonderful spring.


Dr. Kevin Tashlein
Principal