Gwinnett County Public Schools earns top recognition in Georgia for world language proficiency

GWINNETT COUNTY—The Georgia Department of Education has recognized Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) as the top district in the state for world language proficiency with 377 students earning the 2024 Seal of Biliteracy—more than any other school district in Georgia. 

The Georgia Seal of Biliteracy honors high school graduates who demonstrate advanced proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages beyond English. To earn the seal, students must achieve  a minimum “B” average in all required English Language Arts courses and achieve a high proficiency in  a second world language through a state-approved assessment, such as Advanced Placement(AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. 

Virin Veder, PhD, GCPS’ Director of World Languages and Dual Language Immersion, shared his excitement for the program. 

“This past school year, we had the largest number of students ever earn the Georgia Seal of Biliteracy. These students are not only mastering a second language, but they are also gaining access to invaluable global opportunities,” Verder said.

The Georgia Seal of Biliteracy was established in 2016 to encourage students to study world languages; recognize and promote world language instruction in public schools; certify attainment of biliteracy; provide employers with a method to identify people with language and biliteracy skills and provide universities with a method to recognize and give academic credit to applicants seeking admission.

Gwinnett County is the most racially diverse county in Georgia. It is also one of the most diverse counties in the U.S. with more than 25 percent of its population foreign born and more than 130 languages spoken among its residents.   

Gwinnett students earning the Seals of Biliteracy represented the following languages: Chinese, Spanish, French, German, and Latin. They attended the following schools: