A Fulton County Schools elementary school where every student is classified as economically disadvantaged has earned a national recognition in school leadership held by fewer than 600 schools worldwide.

Asa G. Hilliard Elementary in East Point earned the Leader in Me Lighthouse School designation, Fulton County Schools announced Thursday, July 23, 2026. The honor, administered by FranklinCovey, recognizes schools that embed leadership principles into daily instruction, school culture, and academic systems.

Principal Tiambi Walker said the designation followed a three-year process built on shared accountability among staff, students, and families.

The school serves roughly 432 students in pre-K through fifth grade. According to U.S. News data from the 2023-2024 school year, 21% of students scored proficient in math and 24% in reading. U.S. News rates the school's reading performance as "Somewhat Above Expectations" relative to its student population, and 100% of students are classified as economically disadvantaged.

To earn Lighthouse status, schools must pass a formal review that includes a site visit, classroom observations, and interviews with students, parents, and staff. Evaluators score schools on a rubric measuring three areas: teaching leadership principles, creating a leadership culture, and aligning academic systems. Applying for certification typically occurs four to five years after a school begins the Leader in Me process, according to FranklinCovey.

At Hilliard Elementary, students maintain leadership portfolios and goal-setting notebooks, track their own academic data, and serve as ambassadors in programs including STEM GEMS and Panther Power Leaders. Students also lead family engagement events such as Literacy Night and Curriculum Night.

A central tool in the school's approach was what the program calls Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs. Students, teachers, and teams set, tracked, and reflected on goals tied to academics, behavior, and leadership development.

The certification lasts two years before the school must recertify. After four years, recertification requires an on-site visit.

As a Lighthouse School, Hilliard Elementary will serve as a mentor and model for other schools across Georgia and the nation seeking to build similar leadership cultures. No district-level spokesperson commented on whether FCS plans to expand the Leader in Me model to additional campuses.

The next Fulton County Board of Education work session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at the North Learning Center in Sandy Springs. The next full board meeting is Thursday, August 20, at the South Learning Center in Union City.