Natorian Allen has his sights on becoming an educator.

“I believe education is important,” the LaGrange High School sophomore said. “Smart kids can become smart adults if given the opportunity.”

On Thursday morning, Allen and 359 of his classmates attended an assembly for 10th-graders designed to help them achieve their educational goals.

State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox was the featured speaker. Playing on her appearance last year on an episode of the quiz show, “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader,” she encouraged the students to be “smarter, focused and to take advantages of the educational opportunities available.”

A public school teacher for 15 years, Cox first was elected superintendent in 2003, and since that day she said she has “set my sights firmly on improving student achievement.”

Standing before the attentive 10th-graders, Cox said, “The state’s No. 1 goal, my No. 1 goal, the governor’s No. 1 goal, and the General Assembly’s No. 1 goal, in education, is to ensure that all of Georgia’s students, all of you, when you walk across the stage at the end of the year is that you receive a meaningful diploma.

“It is our goal to lead the nation in improving student achievement, and I believe it is you, the class of 2012, who can turn the statistics around for the state of Georgia. … It is your time to set the stage.”

After Cox’s talk, LaGrange High principal Steven Cole challenged his students as well by referring to the recent release of outstanding passing percentages of those locally in the class of 2009 on the state graduation test.

“Now is the time for you to become more and more focused on doing better,” he said.

Shelby Stephen, a 10th-grader, said the class of 2009 had an advantage that her classmates don’t have.

“I think (educators) have put a lot of pressure on us by saying it is all up to us. Sure, the seniors (of 2009) did well on the graduation test and their rate is higher. But you have to realize, they had two diploma programs - a technical and a college prep - and now, we only have one.”

The state’s percentage of high school students who graduated in 2003 when Cox took office was 63.3 percent. In 2009, the rate increased to 78.9 percent.

Becky Holland can be reached at rlhg4@bellsouth.net or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 229.