MDE Names Nearly 350 'Reward Schools'

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has announced it's 2012-13 "Reward Schools" with 344 buildings making the cut – more than 100 of which are at the Secondary level.

Reward Schools is one of three new school designations that came as the result of the U.S. Department of Education (USED) Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Request. Those who earned the designation met the recognition criteria in one or more of the following categories:

• High Performing Schools: These schools are in the top 5 percent of the Top to Bottom list, demonstrating high achievement on state assessments in all five core subjects (reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies), continued improvement, and success in reducing achievement gaps.
• High Progress Schools: These schools are those showing significant improvement and sustaining this growth over several years. They may not currently be high achieving, but they are making significant progress.
• Beating the Odds Schools: These schools demonstrate achievement that exceeds expectations or predictions based on demographic characteristics of the schools and students.

MASSP is pleased to recognize all of these hardworking administrators and their faculty, staff and communities – including the 108 schools at the Middle Level and High School Level. We encourage administrators across the state at all levels to share and work together to raise the achievement level for all of our schools.

Congratulations to this year's Reward School award winners and keep up the great work!

For more information on Reward Schools, visit the MDE website at www.mi.gov/rewardschools.