Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch - School Tours





Webb Bridge School



Designated in 2005
Webb Bridge Middle School • Fulton County School System • Fulton County • Georgia • Elizabeth Fogartie, Principal • 4455 Webb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30005 • Phone (770) 667-2940, Fax (770) 667-2948

Website: www.webbbridge.com
*Principle, Ms. Elizabeth Fogartie named NMSA Distinguished Educator of the Year, 2009


2009-2010 School Statistics

Community: Suburb of large city, Atlanta
Enrollment: 1366 students
Grade Levels: 6, 7, 8
School Schedule: 7 period day

Student Demographics:
12.08%   African American
17.79%   Asian
62.08%   Caucasian
4.32%   Hispanic
3.59%   Multi Racial
6.07%   Free/Reduced Lunch
1.17%   English Language Learners
6.46%   Special Education Program Participants
36%   Gifted Program Participants

2005 AYP: Met
2006 AYP: Met
2007 AYP: Met
2008 AYP: Met
2009 AYP: Met


School Characteristics and Replicable Practices


Academic Excellence

  • Teachers maintain high academic standards for all students, plan with those standards and students in mind, and celebrate their successes throughout the year.
  • At the beginning of each year, teachers at each grade level pour over assessment data and other various pieces of information from the previous year to gather vital details about their upcoming students –not to learn about limitations, but rather to focus on potential.
  • During common planning times and curriculum meetings, teachers craft lessons and units across grade levels and content areas to build upon that potential and to satiate the innate hunger for knowledge that students possess.
  • Teachers have been trained on Differentiated Instruction, inclusion teaching, writing across the curriculum, rubric development, Learning-Focused Schools, teaching ESOL students, technology integration, and the latest Georgia Performance Standards modules.
  • Teachers use a variety of instructional strategies to challenge and engage all of their students, often putting students at the helm of their own learning. Two such strategies are modeling and providing students with examples of exemplary work.
  • The school’s media center specialist organizes and activates the Accelerated Reader and Got Books? programs each fall. A March Madness reading tournament motivates students to read and log their reading minutes for their favorite college team during a month long reading competition
  • Teachers continually look for ways to incorporate technology into their lessons.
  • WBMS has six self-contained academic computer labs, which have been loaded with the best content-specific software, numerous Alpha Smart keyboards, Activboards, and the latest graphing calculators for math classes.
  • One of the cornerstones of the academic program at Webb Bridge is the 8-Step Instructional process.


The following list of awards represents Webb Bridge Middle School’s high expectations for students, teachers, and the total school community, as well as our dedication to and recognition of exemplary performance.

  1. School awards. Nine academic achievement awards from the Georgia State School Superintendent’s office (2008); Lighthouse School to Watch (2005); Gold, silver, and bronze academic achievement awards from the Georgia Governor’s office (2005, 2006, and 2007); Golden Apple Award (2002, 2004); Earth Flag Award (2004); Georgia School of Excellence (2001-2002).
  2. Georgia Garden of Opportunities. Georgia Council for the Social Studies Program of Excellence Award (2001). Fulton County School System Partnership of the Year Award to Plant it Green and WBMS (2001). Ten thousand dollar grant from the Georgia legislature (2000).
  3. Academic Bowl Team. 1st place, Georgia PAGE Academic Bowl (2008); 1st place, Westminster Invitational, Fulton County Division Competition, Junior Beta State Quiz Bowl, Fulton County Middle School Championship, PAGE Regional Competition (2005); 1st place, National Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl, State Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl (2005); 1st place, Knowledge Master Open (2005); 7th nationally in American Mathematics Competition (2005); 1st place, Word Masters Competition (2005); 1st place ranking in Fulton County in the Georgia Mathematics League Contest (2005); 4th place, Knowledge Masters Open (2003); 1st place, Georgia Academic Team Association State Championship (2004); 3rd place, Westminster Invitational (2003); 1st place, Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl (2004); 1st place, Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl (2003); 1st place, Georgia Mathematics League Contest (2003); 2nd place, National Junior Beta Club’s Quiz Bowl Championship (2002); 1st place, National Junior Beta Club’s Quiz Bowl Championship (2000); 1st place, GA Academic Team Association Middle Grade Quiz Bowl Tournament (2001)
  4. Individual/Team Student Honors. Danny Kim – State winner, Jimmy Carter postcard design contest (2008); After 3 Walk-a-Thon –most money raised by any Fulton County school (2005); Nick Talathi and CJ Cochran –1st place, Regional Social Science Fair (2005); Marissa Pan and Anri Olivier --1st place, Fulton County Science Fair (2005); William Horton & Anirudh Sundararaghavan --Gold Medal Winners, SIGMA Mathematics League Contest (2005); Angela Li –Silver Medal Winner, SIGMA Mathematics League Contest (2005); Nandhini Sundaresan –3rd place, Fulton County Spelling Bee, 1st place, Regional Spelling Bee (2005); Twelve students earned first place in the Fulton County Social Science Fair (2004); Thomas Fielding and Saarika Koneru –2nd place, Fulton County Technology Fair (2004); Julia Pei –1st place, Fulton County Science and Engineering Fair (2004); Future Problem Solving Team –2nd place, Georgia Future Problem Solving Bowl (2004); Akhil Kumar –1st place, Fulton County Technology Fair (2003); Garrett Melick –1st place, Regional Social Studies Fair (2003); William Fowler and Ron Sassaro –1st place, Georgia State Science Fair (2003); Future Problem Solving Team –2nd place, Georgia Future Problem Solving Bowl (2003); Five students earned first place recognition in the Fulton County Social Science Fair (2003); Henri Korhonen –3rd place, State Geography Bee (2001); Megan Elmore –3rd place, Junior Beta State Spelling Bee (2001). Music Awards. Meena Balasubramaniam, Dana Lubin, and Amy Srdar –All-State Treble Chorus (2005); Wesley Gillis –GMEA All-state orchestra (2005); Sara Balsam and William Horton –GMEA Statewide 6th grade Honor Chorus (2005); Six students were chosen for the Spivey Hall Treble Honor Choir (2005); seven students were chosen to be in the ACDA Honor Chorus; All-State Selection (2005): chorus (13 students), band (4 students), and orchestra (1 student); Superior or Excellent ratings at GMEA District 5 Festivals (1997-2005) by band, orchestra, and chorus; All-State Selection (2004): chorus (11 students); Luke Myzska, Garrett Scholberg, and Elizabeth Peterson –ACDA National Conference Honors Chorus (2002); All-State Selection (2001): orchestra (7 students) and chorus (8 students).
  5. Recognition to Student Clubs for Community Service. School raised $10,000+ for the Red Cross to benefit September 11th victims and their families (2001); students raised $1400+ through the Atlanta Hawks Team-Up for Children’s Wish Foundation and received award from the Atlanta Hawks organization (2000).
  6. Outstanding Individual Faculty/Staff Honors. Kathy McCaffrey – Teacher member of the NMSA Board (2008); Elizabeth Fogartie – Georgia High Performance Principal (2008, 2007, 2006) and 2005-2006 Georgia VIF Principal of the Year; Dean Brannon – Fulton County Middle School Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Alliance for Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (2004); Dru Tomlin –Fulton County Teacher of the Year (2003); Ashley Price and Dan Thomas – Fulton County Council for the Arts grant to fund Artist-in-Residency program (2001); Valerie Zenus and Angie Branch – Math Roundtable Award (1997 and 2000); Cora Cramer -- Fulton County School System Nutrition Employee of the Year (2001); Jenny Cooksey, Angie Reed, Sandi Dabbs, Michelle Leonard, Barbara Pozen, Kathy McCaffrey, and Caroline Kelly – National Board Certified Teachers.
  7. Grant Awards to teachers for class initiatives or research. Tina Mathewson –Ten thousand dollar Artist-in-Residency grant to integrate language arts and science with an emphasis on recycling and bookmaking (2003); Fulton County School System mini-grants (value up to $2000) awarded to 20 teachers (1997-2001); PTA mini-grants to 15 teachers (1999-2001).
  8. Pay for Performance. State winners receiving $2000 per certified staff member (1999 and 2001).


Developmental Responsiveness

  • WBMS demonstrates a commitment to its young adolescents by communicating and working with its feeder schools for transitional purposes. Every spring, two special transitional programs take place to help students who are entering Webb Bridge and those who are leaving its hallowed halls.
  • The Bridge Team, which consists of nominated 6th graders from each homeroom, assists with the rising 5th grade visits every spring.
  • Webb Bridge’s guidance counselors organize conferences with the high school’s counselors each spring, so students can discuss course decisions and ultimately feel assured that the road ahead is clear.
  • Webb Bridge Middle School demonstrates commitment to its students through its numerous curricular and extracurricular offerings.
  • Two exploratory connections classes, that change every nine weeks, are imbedded in each student’s daily schedule. These heterogeneous classes are updated yearly based on student interest and need.
  • Webb Bridge Middle School offers a host of options for student involvement, which are coordinated by its Clubs Director. He/she ensures that club times are flexible and varied so all students can participate.
  • All of Webb Bridge’s teacher-sponsored clubs and activities obviously meet a variety of student needs.
  • School performance is also increased by having students’ voices intermingle through cooperative learning strategies, peer conferences, and peer tutoring.
  • Students’ voices are also used to increase their own citizenship skills. The yearly Student Council Election Convention gives students an opportunity to participate in a simulation of the political process.
  • The Webster awards are given to students monthly in the areas of academics, the arts, athletics, and altruism.

Social Equity

  • WBMS emphasizes continued success of all students.
  • Webb Bridge Middle School understands that teachers are instructional leaders whose critical charge is to help students be successful.
  • The faculty and staff recognize that part of the school’s responsibility is to enlighten students about the diverse cultures in the school and the world.
  • Our ESOL students are a vital part of the school’s overall program; their diverse voices and experiences fill the classrooms and enrich student learning. Along with their ESOL teacher, they lend a hand when the school celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in the fall and Asian Heritage Month in the spring. Both month-long celebrations are filled with cultural facts on the morning news broadcast, pictures of famous persons from both cultures, and many other chances to learn and celebrate.
  • Students also enjoy Black History Month and Exceptional Children’s Week. These are times when other worlds, other cultures, and other experiences are highlighted and enthusiastically observed with facts and fun.
  • During Exceptional Children’s Week not only is student awareness raised about the gifts these students bring to the school environment, but money is also raised for Special Olympic athletes.
  • In sixth grade, each student participates in an event known as STARbooks (sit together and read), the culmination of an authentic real world performance activity that challenges students to become a published author in order to present an original story. Each book is a bound hard cover book that is underwritten by a PTA grant. On the day of the event, each homeroom teacher’s classroom becomes a living room, and student authors, parents, teachers, and guests journey to each room to learn about the various authors and their original works. Each sixth grade student is an expert on his or her story, literary techniques, style, and he or she shares that literary knowledge with all who visit. STARbooks is also a collaboration with our business partner STARbucks, in order to serve refreshments and "professionalize" the event.
  • Extended Learning is an extended day program that is offered after school two days a week for two hours a day. Level one (students who do not meet the expectations of the state curriculum tests) learners are invited to join the program as part of an effort to offer more attention, academic support, and four more adults to act as advocates for the students. A Rotary grant enabled the school to purchase a site permit for Study Island, a highly engaging computer interactive program, to offer customized instruction in all contents at all grade levels. Students are rewarded for progress at each level, and multiple, individualized reports are generated for data collection. The Extended Learning program has shown continuous improvement for the students who participate. Four teachers are involved with teaching the approximate forty students who are enrolled.
  • WATT’S UP (Websters are talking together) is the school’s character education program that is delivered through an advisory model to ensure that each student has an opportunity to develop a special relationship with one adult in the building. The program is designed around a highly engaging program centered on The Hollywood Film Clips Project. Lesson plans have been developed and shared online with teachers across the United States as well as at state and national conferences. The National Middle School Association Journal featured an article on WATT’S UP whereby our school has shared our experiences with other schools hoping to share this commitment to character education and advisory.

Organizational Supports

  • The key to the success of the family and community partnerships at Webb Bridge is effective two-way communication.
  • The school’s web site, www.webbbridge.com, for instance, provides interested, earnest parents with information about the school, its faculty and staff, counseling and careers, business partners, PTA, Local School Advisory Council, the Virtual Media Center, and volunteer opportunities.
  • The school understands the value of direct communication and recognizes this by hosting transitional meetings for parents of rising 5th graders, so their concerns can be voiced and their questions can be answered. These meetings occur both in the spring and the fall, and this sincere communication is continued throughout the year through its weekly newsletter, “Friday Notes”, which is both sent home and published on the school’s website.
  • The PTA celebrates teachers throughout the year by organizing gracious luncheons and surprising them with gifts, such as lovely potted flowers to announce the coming of spring.
  • The Local School Advisory Council (LSAC), composed of elected teachers, parents, business partners, and the school’s principal, is a group that helps build a strong alliance between school and home. During their monthly meetings, LSAC members discuss the school’s strategic plan, issues about school improvement, and the community’s point of view on how Webb Bridge is meeting its needs.
  • Parents with artistic and theatrical talents always offer their services when the school play begins each fall and when the musical starts each spring. They are often at the school long after teachers have left, painting sets and facilitating rehearsals. They also help organize speakers for special events, such as the annual Georgia Heritage Day. For the annual Career Day, in fact, many of the speakers are Webb Bridge parents, who willingly take the time to talk to students about their jobs and experiences.
  • The Rotary Club of Windward sponsors a moving, educational presentation by AIDS Atlanta members, who talk about their lives, the challenges they have endured, and the triumphs they have accomplished in the face of that disease.
  • The school works together with the School Arts Program and Young Audiences groups to plan educational and entertaining acts for the different grade levels. As a result of their coordination, acts as diverse as Bullies and Bystanders, an interactive drama about bullying, a Chinese dance troupe, and the Atlanta Percussion Trio have come to Webb Bridge to share their talents and enlighten students.
  • WBMS has also worked with the Junior Achievement program to supplement its Careers class, a nine-week connections class that teaches students about job-related subjects such as resume writing and having a good interview.
  • One of the most beneficial partnerships that Webb Bridge has entered into has been with its Partners in Education (PIE) network, a group of businesses dedicated to giving back to the school. The following is a partial listing of PIE members and their gifts to Webb Bridge: Atlanta Bread Company (gift certificates for perfect attendance), Best Little Flower Shop (flowers for special events, such as Georgia Heritage Day), Publix (food for school functions), Home Depot (materials at a discount and free delivery), Plant It Green (landscaping for the Georgia Garden), PostNet (invitations to the 8th grade dance), Rotary Club of Windward (gift cards for reading programs), Designs of the Interior (career day speakers and fabric donations), McDonald’s (meal coupons and drinks for students), Moe’s (gift cards for attendance awards), and Salomon Smith Barney (consultant for the after school Finance Club).
  • More than forty community businesses have banded together with Webb Bridge over the last three years to offer a night of entertainment, food samples, and community for all. The event has drawn in members of the community that do not even have children attending the school. Not only our students engaged in many venues (as hosts, members of the choir, displayed art work, orchestra performances, food servers) but also as participants in the cake walk and Red Cross basket auction. The Taste of Webb Bridge is a night of community!
  • All students are encouraged to reach the school’s literacy goal of reading 25 books each year. Business partners and civic organizations have supported our literacy initiative by donating/ gift cards to students who meet the various levels of reading goals.