COLUMBUS, Ga. - Muscogee County School District Superintendent Dr. David F. Lewis is one of four finalists for the 2027 Georgia Superintendent of the Year award. The Georgia School Superintendents Association will select a winner from a group that includes school leaders from Muscogee County, McDuffie County, Valdosta City Schools and Dougherty County. The announcement comes as Muscogee County reports its highest graduation rate on record.

The school district announced Lewis' selection Thursday, Oct. 22, recognizing his leadership and work to improve student achievement. Lewis has led the district for more than 13 years, beginning with his appointment in July 2013. During that period, the district has recorded rising graduation rates and recently received national funding to expand career education.

The recognition puts Lewis in consideration for an award that could also lead to national recognition. Georgia's winner advances to consideration for the National Superintendent of the Year award. Based on previous announcements, the state winner is expected to be named in early December 2026, although an official date has not been announced.

By the Numbers: Lewis and Muscogee County Schools

1. Four finalists. Lewis is one of four superintendents competing for Georgia's 2027 award. The other finalists represent McDuffie County, Valdosta City Schools and Dougherty County. The Georgia School Superintendents Association announces four finalists each fall during its Fall Bootstrap Conference.

2. More than 13 years as superintendent. The Muscogee County school board unanimously hired Lewis on July 23, 2013, after a 15-month nationwide search. He had been named the sole finalist two weeks before the board's final decision. His starting salary was $170,000, according to WTVM's reporting at the time.

3. More than 30,000 students. Muscogee County School District serves more than 30,000 students across Columbus and Muscogee County. Its operations include 56 schools, centers and magnet programs. The district also employs more than 5,500 people, making it the county's second-largest employer.

4. A 96.3% graduation rate. Muscogee County reached a four-year graduation rate of 96.3% in 2026, setting a district record. That exceeded the district's previous best of 96.1% in 2025. Georgia's statewide graduation rate in 2026 was 88.5%, leaving Muscogee County 7.7 percentage points higher.

5. A 2.8-point increase since 2023. Muscogee County's graduation rate stood at 93.5% in 2023 and rose to 94.1% in 2024. It increased again to 96.1% in 2025 before reaching 96.3% in 2026. The four-year change represents a gain of 2.8 percentage points.

6. Nine high schools above the state average. All nine Muscogee County high schools reported graduation rates of at least 92% in 2026. Columbus High School and Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts both reached 100%. Five high schools, Carver, Hardaway, Jordan, Kendrick and Shaw, recorded their highest graduation rates.

7. A $300,000 career education grant. Muscogee County's Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education Department received a $300,000 national Catalyze Challenge grant in September. The district was one of 14 organizations selected nationwide from more than 500 applications. The funding will support plans to turn one middle school into a fully career-infused school.

8. One of 10 innovative districts. Muscogee County is also among 10 districts selected for the Georgia Department of Education's first Innovative School Models cohort. The district's career education plans connect classroom instruction with projects developed alongside local employers. Students will continue learning the same state academic standards through projects tied to careers.

Who Are the Four Finalists?

The Georgia School Superintendents Association identified four school leaders for its 2027 Superintendent of the Year award. The finalists represent different Georgia school systems, including Muscogee County in Columbus. Lewis is competing against three other superintendents for the statewide recognition.

Two finalists have additional connections to the association's award process. Rhodes previously reached the finalist stage for the 2025 award, while Lockhart serves as the association's president for 2026-27. The association has not announced which of the four finalists will receive the 2027 honor.

Muscogee County officials welcomed Lewis' selection in their Oct. 22 announcement. The district credited his leadership, commitment to student achievement and work to expand educational opportunities. Officials also expressed pride in his accomplishments and said they look forward to celebrating him when the selection process concludes.

How the Superintendent of the Year Is Chosen

The Georgia School Superintendents Association names four finalists each fall at its Fall Bootstrap Conference. The winner has been announced during the joint annual conference involving the Georgia School Boards Association and the superintendents association. Recent award announcements provide a general timeline for when Muscogee County can expect the next decision.

The 2024 winner was announced Nov. 30, 2023, and the 2025 winner was announced Dec. 12, 2024. The association posted its 2026 winner on Dec. 8, 2025. Those dates suggest an early December 2026 announcement for the 2027 award, but no exact date has been announced.

The current Georgia Superintendent of the Year is Dr. Marc Feuerbach of Cartersville City Schools. The association announced his selection Dec. 8, 2025, after he had previously been a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 awards. His selection shows that a superintendent can reach the finalist stage in multiple years before winning.

Georgia's winner also becomes eligible for national recognition through AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Candidates must first receive their state association's Superintendent of the Year designation to qualify for the national award. Roosevelt Nivens of Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in Texas received the 2026 national award, announced Feb. 12 in Nashville.

Muscogee County's Graduation Rate Reaches a Record

The district's graduation results provide measurable context for Lewis' recognition. According to a Sept. 28 district announcement citing Georgia Department of Education data, Muscogee County recorded a 96.3% four-year graduation rate in 2026. That was the district's highest rate and marked another annual increase.

Muscogee County's rate increased every year shown in the district's report. The statewide rate also improved, rising from 84.4% in 2023 to 88.5% in 2026. Although Muscogee County continued to outperform the state, its advantage narrowed to 7.7 percentage points in the latest results.

All nine district high schools exceeded the 2026 statewide graduation rate. Two schools reported perfect graduation rates, while five established new school records. The school-level results show how graduation outcomes varied across the district despite every high school finishing above 92%.

Lewis credited students and school employees for the continuing improvement in his September statement. He also pointed to district efforts to identify students needing extra academic support and provide help early. He emphasized preparing graduates for their next steps, whether continuing their education, entering military service or joining the workforce.

$300,000 Grant Will Support Career Education

The superintendent recognition also follows a September announcement concerning career-focused instruction. Muscogee County received a $300,000 Catalyze Challenge grant to develop a different approach to middle school learning. The district plans to connect traditional academic subjects with practical projects designed alongside local employers.

The project will transform one middle school into a fully career-infused school. English, mathematics, science and social studies will be taught through hands-on projects while maintaining Georgia's academic standards. The approach is intended to help students understand how classroom lessons relate to employment opportunities in Columbus.

The award followed a competitive national selection process involving more than 500 applications. In April 2026, Muscogee County was among 31 organizations selected for $10,000 and three months of technical assistance. Its later selection placed the district among 14 organizations receiving funding in the September round.

Dr. Victoria Thomas, the district's senior director of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, described the grant as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between classroom learning and local careers. The initiative also aligns with Muscogee County's selection for Georgia's first Innovative School Models cohort. The district is one of 10 participating school systems in that statewide effort.

What Comes Next

Lewis remains one of four finalists as the Georgia School Superintendents Association completes its 2027 selection process. The winner is expected to be announced around early December, based on the association's previous award schedules. If Lewis wins, he will represent Georgia in consideration for AASA's National Superintendent of the Year award.

For Muscogee County, the nomination follows a record graduation rate and a major new investment in career education. The district continues to serve more than 30,000 students through its 56 schools, centers and magnet programs. Its immediate award milestone will be the state association's announcement of the next Georgia Superintendent of the Year.

How We Did This

The Columbus Times used Muscogee County School District announcements dated Sept. 24, Sept. 28 and Oct. 22, 2026, along with the district's About Us information. Award details came from the Georgia School Superintendents Association and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Historical information about Lewis' appointment came from WTVM's July 23, 2013, report.