Park Junior High was named National School of the Year by the National Association of Middle School Principals and Lifetouch.
The recognition brings with it a crystal trophy and $1,500 from Lifetouch.
“We are absolutely thrilled that the recognition came our way, but I have to compliment our students, our faculty and staff and certainly our outstanding community,” said Joyce Jones, principal at Mueller Park.
“It’s the quality of individuals that make all these good things happen,” she said.
To apply for the award, schools were asked to describe programs they have initiated that support academic excellence, good attendance, discipline, parent support and student rapport.
They were also asked to show a path of sustained growth in academics over five years.
Jones said judges were impressed not only with the academic performance of Mueller Park students, but with the school’s efforts to work with those who need to recapture credit, a program known as REACH. The school’s student-led conferences and counseling interventions were also noted.
“They spent a lot of time with our advisory program, which includes character education, where we address multiple issues like integrity and zero tolerance for bullying and personal responsibility,” she said. “Our teachers do a great job with that.”
While Mueller Park took the award for junior high schools, Piedmont Middle School in Charlottee, N.C. was awarded the top prize in the middle school division.
Cheyenne Mountain Junior High of Colorado Springs, Colo., was named runner-up in the junior high category and Pioneer Trail Middle School of Olathe, Kan. for middle schools.
For more information check out the August 16 edition of Davis Clipper.
lshaw@davisclipper.com
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