Commerce City Schools

Expecting Excellence at CCSS!

The results are in, and Commerce High School continues to shine as a leader in student achievement across Georgia!

The CHS Class of 2026 earned a mean SAT score of 1076, outperforming both the state (1029) and national (996) averages. The CHS Class of 2025 achieved a 96.8% graduation rate, continuing a strong upward trend over the years and remaining well above the state average.

These milestones reflect the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the strength of our CCSS community. We are proud of these accomplishments and even more excited for what’s ahead.

Read more: https://aptg.co/HyTsLx

We are so proud of our six CHS students who have been selected to participate in the 2026 Junior Leadership Jackson cohort: Caleb Lewallen, Maribeth Hill, Riley Lord, Madelyn Shirley, Jacob Fields, and Lanie Patrick! CCSS is also represented in the Leadership Jackson Class of 2026 by Mrs. Lauren Milford. Our students will have the opportunity to engage in similar community-based experiences and develop their leadership skills. Today marked the very first meeting for our Junior Leaders, and we can’t wait to see all they will learn and accomplish this year! We are thankful to the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce for this incredible partnership and leadership development program.

At CCSS, we are committed to strong instructional practices and expecting excellence in every classroom. This week, Dr. Powell, Mrs. Lund, Mrs. Puckett, and Mrs. Raettig attended the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS) Conference to continue learning and growing in all things curriculum and instruction. We are thankful for their leadership and the ways they support teachers and students every day!

🚧 Big News for Commerce City Schools! 🚧

We’re breaking ground on the new Commerce Elementary School, and you are invited to join us for this exciting milestone!

📅 Date: September 25, 2025
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: 224 Country Club Lane, Commerce, GA 30529

Come celebrate the future of education in Commerce as we begin building a state-of-the-art K–5 facility that will serve our community for many generations.

Click here to read more about the project, funding, and event details: https://aptg.co/jJzy7B

CHS Cafe Manager, Aranda Lester, and CCSS School Food and Nutrition Director, Greg Buice, proudly accepted the Cafeteria Award of Excellence at the GSNA Annual Kickoff Luncheon! CHS is now part of an elite group of just 21 schools in Georgia to receive this distinguished honor. This award recognizes the dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence of our incredible cafeteria staff. In his letter of support, Principal Will Smith praised the team for their “loving presence that makes the cafeteria a vital and uplifting part of our daily life at the school.” We are so proud of our CHS Nutrition Team!

We were honored to welcome Mrs. Rachel Kinsaul, the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year, to speak with our students and staff at CCSS!  Thank you, Mrs. Kinsaul, for sharing your story, your wisdom, and your encouragement.

Congratulations to our District TOTY and SPOTY! We are proud to announce our District Teacher of the Year, Ms. Ashley Sears, 4th Grade Teacher at CES and our District Support Professional of the Year, Mrs. Samantha Akers, CMS Secretary! Your dedication, passion, and commitment to our students, staff, and community make an incredible difference every day. We are so thankful for all you do for Commerce City Schools!

CCSS Digital Learning Day 📅 Friday, October 3rd Commerce City Schools will have a Digital Learning Day on Friday, October 3rd. Students will learn from home by completing assignments at their own pace. This will be an asynchronous day (no live meetings) and will allow teachers and staff opportunities for professional development. Each school will share specific instructions with students and families.

We’re proud to share that Commerce High School has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best high schools both locally and nationally!

Check out the official press release: https://aptg.co/BzlL-0

We are excited to kick off our first home game with a district-wide pep rally this Friday! Let’s show our school spirit: ✨ CHS – wear GOLD ✨ CMS – wear WHITE ✨ CPS/CES – wear BLACK

Our football team, cheerleaders, and band brought the energy for Tigers on the Town. The Tiger pride, support, and community we have is what makes Commerce such a special place.

Commerce City Schools is proud to share highlights from the 2024–2025 Georgia
Milestones assessments, with students across the district achieving notable academic growth, earning
high state rankings, and reaching new milestones in several subjects.

Superintendent Billy Kirk shared, “We are encouraged by the growth we are seeing in many areas. These
results are a reflection of our students’ hard work, our teachers’ dedication, and the strong support of our
families and community.”

Click to read the full press release: https://aptg.co/mfkYgY

Join us for Tigers on the Town as we kick off the 100th season!

Mr. Kirk joined leaders from our city and state to talk about important issues that affect Commerce — including housing, education, utilities, and more. We value these opportunities to collaborate and work together for the future of our community.

Commerce City Schools Board of Education announces a full roll-back of taxes for the FY 2026 General Fund Budget.
Click here to read the full press release: https://aptg.co/FGSSm9

Today was a milestone moment for Commerce City Schools as we officially cut the ribbon on our new multi-purpose athletic complex. As we opened the doors to the community, it was great to see the legends who built Commerce attend. With the band and cheerleaders leading the way, our Board of Education opened the doors for the community to view this state-of-the-art facility. Thank you to our Board of Education for their commitment to excellence in a tangible way with this new facility that will serve our students and coaches for years to come. As Mr. Kirk stated, "Commerce deserves the best, and this is an example of what we can deliver."

CHS adaptive classes had an unforgettable day at the Atlanta Falcons Practice Training Facility. Students toured the facility, met players and Coach Morris, and experienced a special behind-the-scenes look at the NFL. This incredible opportunity was made possible through the support of the Falcons organization and our amazing school community.

Commerce City Schools is thrilled to welcome our Tiger Family and the entire Commerce community to the Grand Opening of our brand-new Multipurpose Athletic Complex on Monday, August 11, 2025, at 4:45 PM! This state-of-the-art facility is a bold investment by the Commerce City Schools Board of Education in our students, athletes, coaches, and the bright future ahead for our entire district. Built for growth, excellence, and community pride, it’s a space we’re proud to share with you. Join us as we celebrate this exciting milestone and take the next step forward, together. Our best days are ahead! Go Tigers! BK