Colquitt County School District Earns Prestigious Georgia Economic Development Partnership Designation

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), in partnership with the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) and Georgia Power, has officially recognized Colquitt County School District (CCSD) as one of six school districts in Georgia to earn the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) designation for FY26.

The five-year designation recognizes school districts that excel at aligning their Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs with local workforce needs and regional economic development strategies.  CCSD was celebrated alongside other recipient districts at GEDA’s annual fall conference in Savannah on September 18.

“When schools and local employers are at the same table, students have more opportunities to see where their talents can take them — and communities grow,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods.  “These six districts have done the work to build those strong connections between the classroom and high-demand careers in their own communities.”

The EDP certification process evaluates districts on key metrics, including alignment with local industry, active CTAE advisory committees, programs such as “Project Purpose,” and expanded Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities.

Colquitt County School District has demonstrated a powerful impact on local talent development and academic achievement:

·         High-Impact Work-Based Learning: Colquitt County CTAE had 276 Work-Based Learning students during the 2025-2026 school year, earning over $1.29 million in student wages.

·         Academic Success: CTAE concentrators in Colquitt County achieve a 97.8% graduation rate and a 97.17% post-secondary placement rate.

·         Community Alignment: Through initiatives such as Project Purpose, the school district facilitates intentional, targeted interactions among students, teachers, and high-demand career fields at the local, regional, and state levels.  Through these programs, over 1,200 students annually engage in career-focused events, and over 250 community volunteers give their time to support them.

The district’s success relies heavily on strong collaborations with local and state leadership, including the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Authority, and Georgia Power.

Chamber President and CEO Caitlyn Hatcher shared, “The District’s Economic Development Partnership designation recognizes what can happen when education and industry work together with a shared purpose.  Through partnerships like Project Purpose, our students are meeting local employers, exploring careers, and seeing opportunities they may not have known existed right here at home.  As the Chamber, we’re proud to help make those connections.  This recognition belongs to the school district and to the educators, businesses, and community partners who keep showing up for our students.”

“Through Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, Georgia’s school systems are preparing students for high-demand careers while strengthening the talent pipeline that supports business and industry,” added Dr. Barbara Wall, GaDOE Deputy Superintendent for CTAE.

With this designation, CCSD joins a select group of districts statewide leading the effort to position Georgia as the top state for talent and business.  To see the GaDOE official announcement, visit https://gadoe.org/press-releases/georgia-department-of-education-recognizes-economic-development-partnership-districts/

Courtesy of Colquitt County School District | South Georgia Magazine