DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
2024–2029 STRATEGIC PLAN
BALANCED SCORECARD
Baseline-to-Actual Progress and Growth Toward Our 2029 Goals
DeKalb County Board of Education Retreat • August 28, 2026
Pamela McCloud-Director of Organizational Effectiveness
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Goal and Metric Alignment
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PROGRESS TOWARD 2029 GOALS (SNAPSHOT)
Distance
Goal Area Performance Objective Progress toward 2029 goal Status
remaining
1 · Academic Success ELA EOG Proficiency 30.9% of a 47% goal 16.1 pts Target Not Yet Met
2 · Engagement Community Partners 56 of 72 (78%) 16 partners Target Met
Improvement but Target Not
3 · Talent Certified Position Fill Rate 98.6% of a 99% goal 0.4 pts
Yet Met
4 · Culture & Climate Chronic Absenteeism 26.4% vs. 24.5% goal 1.9 pts Target Met
5 · Mental Health Student Safe Centers 8 of 20 (40%) 12 centers Target Not Yet Met
Improvement but Target Not
6 · Org. Excellence On-Time Bus Arrival 94% of a 95% goal 1 pt
Yet Met
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HOW TO READ THIS REPORT
SIX GOAL AREAS, ONE DISTRICT-WIDE SCORECARD
1 Student Academic Success with Equity and Access READING THE STATUS FLAGS
Target Met
2 School, Family, and Community Engagement
The 2025 (or most recent) actual met or exceeded the target.
3 Recruit, Develop, and Retain Talent Improvement, Target Not Met
Actual improved on baseline but fell short of target.
4 Culture and Climate
Target Not Met
5 Mental Health and Wellness Actual did not improve enough to meet the target.
6 Organizational Excellence Baseline / Planning Year
2025 established the baseline; targets begin in 2026.
This report tracks 52 key performance indicators against 2024 baselines and 2029 goals. The following pages highlight headline indicators showing baseline-to-actual
growth in each goal area.
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Goal & Performance
1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 Additional Information
Objective
The 2026 data are not yet released for 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5
Baseline Baseline (Milestones, Graduation Rate, or CCRPI).
Target Status 2025 2025 2026 2026 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2026
2025 2026 The 2025 or 2026 school year was the baseline data for one of the 1.5
and 1.6 objectives.
Goal & Performance
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4
Objective
Target Status 2026 2026 No Data 2026 2026 There is no data accessible for 2.3.
Goal & Performance
3.1 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4
Objective
Target Status 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026
Goal & Performance
4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.4
Objective
The 2026 data are not yet available for one of the 4.1 objectives
Target Status 2026 2026 2025 2026 2026 2025 2026
(Climate Star) or for the 4.3 objective (Chronic Absenteeism).
Goal & Performance
5.1 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4
Objective
The 2026 data has not yet been received from Human Resources for
Target Status 2026 2026 No Data 2026 No Data 5.2. The 2026 data turned in by Human Resources for 5.4 was not
2026, it was current 2027 data.
Goal & Performance
6.1 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.5
Objective
The 2026 school year was the baseline data for one of the 6.1
Baseline
Target Status 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2026 2025 2025 objectives. The 2026 data are not yet available for either 6.5 objectives
2026 (Audit Designation and Undesignated Fund Balance).
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Legend Target Met Target Not Met Improvement but Target Not Met
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GOAL AREA 1 · STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS
ELA PROFICIENCY: BASELINE THROUGH 2026
50
47.0
46.0
45
40 38.0
37.0
35 34.1 33.7
32.9
30.9
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
ELA EOG ELA EOC
2024 Baseline 2025 Actual 2026 Target 2026 Actual (November Release) 2029 Goal
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GOAL AREA 1 · STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS
MATHEMATICS: PROFICIENCY THROUGH 2026
50
45
40.0
40 38.0
37.0
34.2
35
30.8 31.7
30.7
30 28.1 28.0
24.2
25
20
15
10
5
0
Math EOG Algebra C&C EOC
2024 Baseline 2025 Actual 2026 Target 2026 Actual 2029 Goal
vs. 2026 Target — points ahead (+) or behind (–): Math EOG +0.9 | Algebra C&C EOC +10.0
Strength: Both math measures beat their 2026 targets — Math EOG at 31.7% (+0.9) and Algebra C&C EOC at 38.0% (+10.0), which already exceeds its 37% 2029 goal by a full
point. Watch: Math EOG still has 8.3 points to close to the 40% 2029 goal — about 2.8 points a year, roughly triple the 1.0-point gain posted in 2026.
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GOAL AREA 1 · STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS
GRADUATION RATE: BASELINE THROUGH 2026
100
95
89.1 89.3
90
85 82.6
82.3 82.3
81.4
79.3 80.0 79.3 80.0
80
75
70
65
60
4-Yr Grad Rate 5-Yr Grad Rate
2024 Baseline 2025 Target 2025 Actual 2026 Target 2026 Actual (TBD) 2029 Goal
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GOAL AREA 1 · STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS
STUDENT GROWTH (CCRPI SGP)
Growth and proficiency answer two different questions — and neither one is a CCRPI score.
PROFICIENCY — “Did students reach grade-level standards?”
The percent of students scoring Proficient or Distinguished on Georgia Milestones. Our scorecard proficiency targets
(for example, ELA EOG 47% by 2029) are set on that percentage.
GROWTH — “How much did students improve from their own starting point?”
Reported as the CCRPI Student Growth Percentile (SGP). Our scorecard measure is the percent of students exceeding
the 40th-percentile annual growth mark — not a CCRPI point total.
Avoiding confusion with CCRPI targets
CCRPI is a separate school rating; growth is only one component within it, so a CCRPI target is not the same as our
growth target.
A school can be low in proficiency yet strong in growth, or the reverse — the two must be read side by side.
Growth credits improvement from different starting points; proficiency shows absolute mastery of grade-level content.
The Board needs both to judge progress toward 2029.
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GOAL AREA 1 · STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS
STUDENT GROWTH (CCRPI SGP)
90
80 75 74 75
70 70
70 67 66 66
64 64 64 63 64
60 61 61 61 60
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60 56 54
51
50
40
30
20
10
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ELA Elem ELA Middle ELA High Math Elem Math Middle Math High
2024 Baseline 2025 Target 2025 Actual 2029 Goal
% of students exceeding 40th-percentile annual growth (CCRPI SGP). ELA High is a new metric not available in 2024 — no 2024 baseline or 2025 target was set (2026 Target: 62.0%).
vs. 2025 Target: ELA Elem –8.6 | ELA Middle –9.9 | ELA High n/a | Math Elem –0.8 | Math Middle –3.4 | Math High +6.1
92.0% Digital Literacy (Goal 1.6) — Teacher Digital Integration, Ignite U TICs
2024: 86.0% → 2025: 79.0% → 2026: 92.0% → 2029 Goal: 95.0%
2026 Target: 83.0% → Actual: 92.0%
(+9.0 pts)
Target Met (2026)
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GOAL AREA 1 · STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS
CCRPI PATHWAY COMPLETION & DIGITAL LITERACY
100 95.0
92.0
89.0 87.7
90 86.0
83.0 83.0
79.8 81.0 80.0 79.0
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
CCRPI Pathway Completion Digital Literacy Proficiency
2024 Baseline 2025 Target 2025 Actual 2026 Target 2026 Actual (TBA) 2029 Goal
vs. 2026 Target — points ahead (+) or behind (–): Digital Literacy Proficiency +9.0 | CCRPI Pathway Completion: 2026 actual TBA
Strength: Digital literacy proficiency rebounded from 79.0% in 2025 to 92.0% in 2026, clearing its 83.0% target by 9.0 points and closing to within 3.0 points of the 95.0% 2029
goal. Pathway completion stands at 80.0% against an 83.0% target for 2026, with that actual still to be announced.
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GOAL AREA 2
SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Social Media Reach Scheduled and Unscheduled
Community Partners
(Likes/Subscribers) Interpretations
56 125,593 40,801
2026 Actual — Target Met 2026 Actual — Improvement, Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Met
2024: 10 2024: 94,623 2025 Baseline: 28,879
2025: 36 2025: 113,547 2026 Target: 29,601 → Actual: 40,801
2026 Target: 41 → Actual: 56 2026 Target: 136,200 → Actual: 125,593 (+11,200, exceeded)
(+15, exceeded) (–10,607)
2029 Goal: 72 2029 Goal: 41,413
2029 Goal: 235,354
Target Met Improving Target Met
Data note: legacy ThoughtExchange survey participation is no longer tracked (platform access ended); Social Media Reach replaces it as the primary engagement indicator for this goal.
Translations are scheduled on an as needed basis.
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GOAL AREA 2
ENGAGEMENT: RESPONSE RATES AND TRANSLATIONS
Translations
ThoughtExchange Response Rates
(Documents Translated)
9,000 2,792
2025 Actual — Target Met 2026 Actual — Target Not Met
2024 Baseline: 7,000 2025 Actual: 3,425
2025 Target: 7,336 → Actual: 9,000
(+1,664, exceeded) 2026 Target: 3,511 → Actual: 2,792
(–719)
2029 Goal: 10,800
2029 Goal: 3,768
Target Met Target Not Met
Data note: legacy ThoughtExchange survey participation is no longer tracked (platform access ended); Social Media Reach replaces it as the primary engagement indicator for this goal.
Translations are scheduled on an as needed basis.
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GOAL AREA 3
RECRUIT, DEVELOP, AND RETAIN TALENT
Certified Position Classified Position Teacher Retention Career Pathway
Fill Rate Fill Rate Rate Programs for Staff
98.6% 90.7% 92% 4
2026 Actual — Target Met 2026 Actual — Target Met 2025 Baseline established 2026 Actual — Target Met
2025 Baseline: 84% 2025 Baseline: 87% 2025 Baseline: 84% 2025 Baseline: 1
2026 Target: 88% → Actual: 98.6% 2026 Target: 88% → Actual: 90.7% 2026 Target: 87.5% → Actual: 92% 2026 Target: 2 → Actual: 4
(+10.6 pts) (+2.7 pts)
(+2, exceeded)
2029 Goal: 99% 2029 Goal: 90% 2029 Goal: 97% 2029 Goal: 8
Target Met Target Met Target Met Target Met
2025 was a baseline-setting year for talent metrics; fill-rate and pathway-program targets are already being exceeded in 2026. Evaluation exemplary-score rates (TKES/LKES/DKES) and
retention rates for paraprofessionals, SROs, nurses, and bus drivers also established 2025 baselines and begin formal target tracking as 2026 data is finalized.
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GOAL AREA 3
TKES, LKES, AND DKES EXEMPLARY SCORES
TKES Exemplary Scores LKES Exemplary Scores DKES Exemplary Scores
2.8% 4.0% 5.7%
2026 Actual — Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Not Met
2025 Actual: 3.7% 2025 Actual: 5.0% 2025 Actual: 5.0%
2026 Target: 8.7% → Actual: 2.8% 2026 Target: 10.0% → Actual: 4.0% 2026 Target: 10.0% → Actual: 5.7%
(–5.9 points) (–6.0 points) (–4.3 points)
2029 Goal: 23.7% 2029 Goal: 25.0% 2029 Goal: 25.0%
Target Not Met Target Not Met Target Not Met
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GOAL AREA 3
RETAIN HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STAFF RETENTION RATES
Paraprofessional Retention SRO Retention Nurse Retention Bus Driver Retention
82.0% 98.0% 93.0% 94.0%
2026 Actual — Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Met 2026 Actual — Target Not Met
2025 Actual: 88.0% 2025 Actual: 99.0% 2025 Actual: 87.0% 2025 Actual: 99.0%
2026 Target: 88.25% → Actual: 2026 Target: 99.25% → Actual: 2026 Target: 87.5% → Actual: 2026 Target: 99.25% → Actual:
82.0% 98.0% 93.0% 94.0%
(–6.25 points) (–1.25 points) (+5.5 points) (–5.25 points)
2029 Goal: 90.0% 2029 Goal: 100.0% 2029 Goal: 90.0% 2029 Goal: 100.0%
Target Not Met Target Not Met Target Met Target Not Met
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GOAL AREA 4
CULTURE AND CLIMATE
Disciplinary Incidents Restorative Practices Chronic Absenteeism
PBIS Implementation
(District Total) Implementation Rate
22,566 100% 58% 26.4%
2026 Actual — Target Met (lower is better) 2026 Actual — 2029 goal achieved early 2026 Actual — Target Met 2025 Actual — Target Met (lower is better)
2024: 24,785 2024: 0% 2024: 31.7% 2024: 29.5%
2025: 23,686 2025: 91% 2025: 35.2% 2025 Target: 27.9% → Actual: 26.4%
2026 Target: 23,341 → Actual: 22,566 2026 Target: 94% → Actual: 100% 2026 Target: 45% → Actual: 58% (–1.5 pts, better)
(–775, better) (+6 pts) (+13 pts)
2029 Goal: 22,306 2029 Goal: 100% 2029 Goal: 75% 2029 Goal: 24.5%
Target Met Goal Achieved Target Met Target Met
Watch: Bullying-related disciplinary incidents rose to 449 (2025, target 411) and stayed high at 448 (2026, target 403) — about 45 above target and the one climate metric
trending the wrong direction.
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GOAL AREA 4
BULLYING, CLIMATE RATINGS & DE-ESCALATION TRAINING
Disciplinary Bullying Count 4 and 5 Star Climate Ratings De-escalation & Crisis
(District Total) (Schools Rated) Intervention Training
448 TBD 99%
2026 Actual — Target Not Met (lower is
2026 Actual — Pending Release 2026 Actual — Target Met
better)
2024 Baseline: 419 2024 Baseline: 0%
2024 Baseline: 33.1%
2025: 449 2025: 63%
2025: 38.7%
2026 Target: 403 → Actual: 448 2026 Target: 72% → Actual: 98%
2026 Target: 52% → Actual: TBD
(+45, worse) (+27 pts)
2029 Goal: 71%
2029 Goal: 377 2029 Goal: 100%
Target Not Met Pending Target Met
Watch: Bullying counts rose from the 419 baseline to 449 in 2025 and remain at 448 in 2026 — 45 above the 403 target and 71 above the 377 goal for 2029. Climate ratings
improved to 38.7% in 2025 from a 33.1% baseline; the 2026 result is pending against a 52% target. De-escalation training reached 99% against a 72% target, near the 100% goal.
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GOAL AREA 5
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Student Safe Staff Safe Mental Health Mental Health
Centers Spaces Support Staff Awareness Training
8 9 12 9,215
2026 Actual — Improving, Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Not Met 2026 Actual — Target Met 2025 Actual — baseline established
2024: 5 2024: 4 2024: 3
2025: 6 2025: 9 2025: 7 2025 Baseline: 9,215
2026 Target: 9 → Actual: 8 2026 Target: 11 → Actual: 9 2026 Target: 11 → Actual: 12 2026 Target: 9,500 (result pending)
(–1, short) (–2, short) (+1, exceeded)
2029 Goal: 15 2029 Goal: 23 2029 Goal: 11,057 participants/yr
2029 Goal: 20
Improving Target Not Met Target Met Baseline Year
Growth continues district-wide across mental health infrastructure and staffing; student and staff safe-space expansion needs to accelerate to close a 1–2 unit gap and reach 2029 goals
on pace.
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GOAL AREA 6
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
On-Time Bus School Lunch Critical Technology Staff & Student
Arrival Participation Uptime Device Count
94% 68.0% 97.4% 100%
2026 Actual — Target Met 2026 Actual 2026 Actual — Target Met 2025 & 2026 Actual — Target Met
2024: 100%
2024: 88% 2024: 57.2% 2024: 97% 2025: 100%
2025: 90% 2025: 63.3% 2025: 96% 2026 Target: 100% → Actual: 100%
2026 Target: 93% → Actual: 94% 2026: 68.0% 2026 Target: 97% → Actual: 97.4% (met exactly)
(+1 pt) 2026 Target: 64.9% → Actual: 68.0% (+0.4 pts)
(+3.1 pts)
2029 Goal: 95% 2029 Goal: 69.6% 2029 Goal: 100% 2029 Goal: 100%
Target Met Target Met (2025) Target Met Target Met
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GOAL AREA 6
FACILITIES: ASSESSMENT, COST & WORK ORDERS
School Facility Construction Overhead Work Order
Assessment Rating Admin. Cost (Net 30) Completion Time
100% 91% 20 days
2026 Actual — Complete 2026 Actual — Progressing 2026 Actual — Target Met
2024 Baseline: 36 days
2024 Baseline: Planning
2024 Baseline: Developed Workflows 2025: 34 days
2025: Assessment Tool and Protocol
2025: Refined Workflows 2026 Target: 30 days → Actual: 20
Developed
2026 Target: N/A → Actual: 91% days
2026 Target: N/A → Actual: 100%
(–10 days)
2029 Goal: 95%
2029 Goal: 100%
2029 Goal: 4 days
Complete In Progress Target Met
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GOAL AREA 6
AUDIT DESIGNATION & FUND BALANCE RESERVE
Low Risk Audit Undesignated Fund
Designation Balance Reserve
High 22.7%
2025 Actual — Target Not Met (lower is
2026 Actual — Target Met (higher is better)
better)
2024 Baseline: Moderate
2024 Baseline: 21.8%
2025 Target: Moderate
2025: 20.2%
2025 Actual: High
2026 Target: ≥15% → Actual: 22.7%
2026 Target: low → Actual: March
(at the floor)
2027 Release
2029 Goal: 1
2029 Goal: ≥15%
Target Not Met Target Met
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DISTRICT-WIDE HIGHLIGHTS
AREAS OF STRENGTH
Both graduation-rate measures exceeded target — 4-year at 81.4% and 5-year at 82.6%, each up more than 2 points from baseline.
✓
Math proficiency grew on both the EOG (28.1% → 30.7%) and Algebra C&C EOC (24.2% → 32.2%), meeting both 2025 targets.
✓
De-escalation and crisis intervention training reached 99% in 2026 from a 0% baseline, all but closing the 100% 2029 goal.
✓
Restorative Practices reached 100% of schools and community partnerships more than quintupled, from 10 at baseline to 56 in 2026.
✓
Nurse retention climbed to 93%, clearing both the 87.5% target and the 90% 2029 goal; certified and classified fill rates topped 90%.
✓
Facility assessment protocol is complete at 100%, construction overhead admin. cost (Net 30) is at 91%, and audit findings are not yet available.
✓
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DISTRICT-WIDE HIGHLIGHTS
AREAS FOR FOCUS
ELA proficiency declined on both the EOG (34.1% → 30.9%) and Literature & Composition II EOC (33.7% → 32.9%), missing 2025 targets.
▲
Student academic growth (CCRPI SGP) in ELA Elementary and ELA Middle fell below baseline and target — the widest gaps on the scorecard.
▲
Bullying-related disciplinary incidents rose from 419 to 449 (2025) and remained elevated at 448 (2026), against a declining target.
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Three retention rates missed target: paraprofessional 82.0%, SRO 98.0%, and bus driver 94.0%, each short of a 99%+ standard for 2029.
▲
Audit findings moved further from goal, 2 to 3 against a target of 2, while the fund balance reserve now sits exactly at its 15% floor.
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MOVING FORWARD
NEXT STEPS
1 Continue monthly Strategic Plan Accountability Framework (SPAF) workshops and SPAF Report with divisional data contacts.
2 Launch targeted literacy interventions to address declining ELA proficiency and growth measures.
3 Build retention plans for paraprofessionals, SROs, and bus drivers, and confirm the 2026 climate rating once it posts.
4 Direct Operations to raise work order completion from 20% and sustain the completed facility assessment protocol.
5 Report the reserve against the 15% floor each cycle and confirm corrective actions behind the audit findings ahead of the FY27 budget.
Questions and discussion • Data Contact: Division of Research, Data & Evaluation
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