by Bernie O'Donnell, 13WMAZ.com

STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

- State moved to new scoring standard for school after opting out of AYP requirements with 'No Child Left Behind' exemption.

- The state average for elementary schools is 83.4; the middle school average is 81.4; and high school average is 72.6.

- The number of Central Georgia systems that beat the state averages: elementary - six; middle - eight; high school - seven.

Houston County has some of the best-performing schools in Central Georgia.

Most Bibb County schools aren't making the grade.

And some schools in Bleckley, Laurens, Washington and Jones counties drew some of the best grades when the state Department of Education released the report card for every state school.

The College and Career Ready Performance Index replaces the federal standard used until now, called Adequate Yearly Progress.

After no winners from last week's drawings, the Mega Millions is up to $139 million, and the Powerball hit $222 million.

The Tuesday night Mega Millions drawing offers two payment options: a hefty $104 million lump sum or $5.3 million a year for 26 years, according to a release.

The Powerball drawing, Wednesday, has the same two payment options but with bigger payouts. How does getting $222 million spread out over 29 years sound? Or maybe a lump sum of about $144 million sounds better?

The odds of winning either jackpot prize are about 1 in 175 million.

Here are your prep sports scores reported to 13WMAZ for Monday, May 6:

GHSA State Baseball Playoffs:

Statesboro 1  West Laurens 0 (Statesboro wins series 2-1)

Swainsboro 13  Peach Co. 6 (Swainsboro wins series 2-1)

Treutlen 5  Clinch Co. 0 (Game 1)

Treutlen 3  Clinch Co. 1 (Game 2) Treutlen wins series 2-0

GISA Regular Season

Windsor 12  Flint River 2

Tattnall 5 Deerfield 4 

Stratford 8  Brentwood 7