The Bibb County School District projects that Appling Middle will be the only school that posts CRCT gains in every subject in every grade.

Principal Steve Jones concedes his school had  the most room to grow.

"Several schools are very successful," he said. "For instance if you have a school that made 95 percent last year, it's extremely hard to keep 95 percent and move forward to 96 and 97."

But Appling has made gains over the last two years. Jones says in the 2010-2011 school year, the school would have come under state control had they not made adequate yearly progress. But they did, and this year, they're on track to double the number of 8th graders making the mark in science from 21 percent to 45 percent.

"What we're happy about is the progress we're making at Appling Middle School," said Jones.

He says it's taken an attitude adjustment to turn the freight liner of underachievement around-- they've worked to build student's confidence, and raise expectations.

"We come with the mindset every day that the best and the brightest walk through our doors and we're the pride of the East Side."

But it's also taken teachers meeting twice a week to examine test data in detail and map out plans to change negative trends over the coming week.

"It's a the push of the panther," said Jones. "Here at Appling PUSH stands for Plan Until Success Happens Our teachers come in to look at scores and to figure out why students either show progress or did not show progress. We PUSH everyday, all day."