Academic Excellence on Display: Burick Named DCHS 2026 STAR Student
Dade County High School senior Ellie Burick has been named the school’s 2026 STAR Student, recognizing her as the highest SAT scorer at DCHS and one of its top academic performers.
Burick was honored during a recent meeting of the Trenton-Dade Optimist Club, where community leaders and school officials gathered to celebrate her achievement. As part of the STAR tradition, she selected DCHS science teacher Dr. Doug Bailer as her STAR Teacher, the educator she credits with making a meaningful impact on her academic growth.
The STAR, or Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, program is administered statewide by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and is one of Georgia’s longest-running academic recognition initiatives. Established in 1958, the program honors graduating seniors who achieve the highest SAT score at their school and rank in the top 10 percent of their class. Each STAR Student selects a STAR Teacher who has contributed most significantly to their scholastic development.
School-level winners advance to regional recognition events, and regional honorees go on to compete for the title of State STAR Student at a statewide banquet each spring. The program recognizes both academic excellence and the partnership between high-achieving students and the educators who guide them.
“I would say that being recognized for the STAR Student award was a big honor,” Burick said. “The SAT was a tough test to take, and I was glad that I had studied as hard as I did.”
Burick’s recognition reflects sustained achievement across multiple areas. She is a member of the BETA Club and has consistently pursued rigorous academic coursework throughout high school.
Outside the classroom, she maintains a wide range of interests. Burick dances with Ballet Esprit, volunteers as a teen assistant at the Dade County Public Library and participates in a laboratory research group at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, gaining early exposure to hands-on scientific work.
The research experience has helped shape her future plans. While she is still awaiting some college decisions, Burick said she intends to major in chemistry.
“Not all of my college decisions have come back yet, so I’m not sure where exactly I’ll be going,” she said. “However, I do know that I will be majoring in Chemistry wherever I end up.”
DCHS Principal Brent Cooper said Burick’s recognition reflects her steady commitment to excellence.
“Ellie Burick is destined to accomplish remarkable things,” Cooper said. “I look forward to seeing her shine in the field of science and make a meaningful impact. I am proud to see her recognized in this capacity, as she has consistently gone above and beyond to maximize every educational opportunity during her high school career.”
Burick’s chosen STAR Teacher, Dr. Doug Bailer, serves as science department chair at DCHS and brings more than three decades of experience in education. Over the course of his career, he has taught science and mathematics, served in district-level leadership roles and contributed to curriculum development and assessment.
By selecting Bailer as her STAR Teacher, Burick highlighted the influence of a mentor who helped guide her through advanced coursework and prepare her for the academic demands ahead.
As she prepares for graduation, Burick’s STAR Student recognition stands as both a milestone and a springboard, honoring years of disciplined effort while pointing towards a future in the sciences.
