Awards

Four Logan-Hocking Elementary Schools Recognized for Making Significant Gains Despite Challenges in New Schools of Honor Program (5/2013)

Central Elementary and Union Furnace Elementary were recognized as High Performing Schools of Honor and Chieftain Elementary and Hocking Hills Elementary were recognized as High Progress Schools of Honor.

Through Ohio’s new Schools of Honor program, the Ohio Department of Education is recognizing 90 schools that have sustained high academic achievement and made substantial progress while serving a significant number of economically disadvantaged students.

“These schools are proud examples of what can happen when principals, teachers, parents and community members come together believing that all children can learn,” said Dr. Richard A. Ross, superintendent of public instruction. “Teachers in this year’s 90 Schools of Honor uniformly believe that all children can learn despite the challenges presented by their backgrounds and experiences. What they have done is working. I am urging them to help other Ohio schools learn how they can overcome their challenges as well.”

The Schools of Honor program honors awardees that have maintained or improved student achievement in reading and mathematics and met other performance criteria:

• High Performing Schools of Honor had over the past five years a 90 percent or better average proficiency for combined reading and mathematics, a. Criteria includes 75 percent or more proficiency for subgroups of 30 or more students who are of various races, are economically disadvantaged, have disabilities or are English language learners.

• High Progress Schools of Honor score in the top 10 percent of schools as ranked by gains in reading and mathematics combined proficiency in all tested grades across five years. They also are in the top 10 percent for gains in graduation rate across the past five years.

Recognized as 2012 School of Promise (4/2013)

Central Elementary, Chieftain Elementary, Hocking Hills Elementary and Union Furnace Elementary have all been recognized as a 2012 School of Promise by the Ohio Department of Education.

“For years our Schools of Promise program has identified schools with great results despite facing challenging circumstances,” said Ross. “Our Schools of Promise do not let circumstance determine outcomes and do not let obstacles keep them from providing a quality education. Our Schools of Promise prove that there’s no reason why Ohio cannot be a national leader in providing a high-quality education in every district for every child.”

At the Schools of Promise, 75 percent or more of students score proficient or better on statewide achievement tests in reading and mathematics. The selected schools also are addressing achievement gaps, because the 75 percent proficiency measure applies to students in subgroups of 10 or more defined by race and economic disadvantage. Schools of Promise have 40 percent or more of their students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. To be selected for Schools of Promise status, school buildings also must have meet or exceed the expected growth for their students using the Value-Added measure for the most recent year.