Sherman Elementary School and Woodland Elementary School have been named High Progress Schools of Honor by the Ohio Department of Education, based on their 2012-13 Local Report Cards.
Sherman Principal Stephen Rizzo and Woodland Principal Renee Bessick were notified in letters from Dr. Richard A. Ross, Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“Clearly, your school is doing whatever it takes to make sure that your students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve academically,” Ross wrote. “This makes you an outstanding example of what is possible when students, educators, parents and community members work together believing that all students can succeed.”
Both Sherman and Woodland received A’s on the report cards released by the state because their third-graders exceeded the proficiency standard in both reading and math.
However, to become a High Progress School of Honor a building must first be a Title 1 school with at least 40 percent of its students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. In addition these schools must rank in the top 10 percent for gains in proficiency. They also must have an Annual Measurable Objectives grade of C or higher and have met or exceeded Ohio’s value-added measure for the last three years.
“Please share my thanks with all of those who contributed to your school’s success. I hope you will share your strategies generously with other Ohio schools,” Ross wrote. “In the coming weeks we will be sending you a School of Honor banner to display in your building.”
Superintendent Brian Garverick said the honors earned by Sherman and Woodland reflect the district’s initiatives to improve reading, writing and math at the elementary level.
“Our teachers have worked hard through professional development to implement the Literacy Collaborative teaching and delivery framework with Ohio State University in Columbus, the Reading Recovery program with Ashland University and strategic thinking initiatives through the Algebra Project and Ohio State University-Mansfield,” Garverick said. “The results are reflected in test scores.”
The state standard is for 75 percent of third-graders to be proficient in reading and math. On the most recent Local Report Card distributed by the state Sherman had an 85.2 proficiency in reading, 79 percent in math. Woodland had an 87.2 percent proficiency in reading, 79.5 percent in math.