Valley stands out as hub of promising scholarship

Should you happen to stumble upon an unusually large number of students, teachers and staff smiling from ear to ear at six select Mahoning Valley public schools as this academic year winds down, don’t begrudge them.

They’ve more than earned the right to bask in jubilation and high esteem.

Earlier this week, the Ohio Department of Education released its annual honor roll of Schools of Promise. Twenty-nine elementary, intermediate and high schools among Ohio’s 4,237 public schools made the grade, including these six in the Mahoning Valley: Robinwood Lane Elementary in Boardman, West Elementary in Boardman, Youngstown Early College High School, Girard Senior High School, Maplewood Elementary in Trumbull County and West Point Elementary in Columbiana County.

This year, Mahoning Valley schools distinguished themselves in producing the greatest number of Promise honorees of any metro area in Ohio, including those of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. With less than 5 percent of the state’s population, the Valley produced 20 percent of all honorees.

And that’s certainly no mean feat.

To even qualify to receive the honor, schools must start out with some generally recognized obstacles to success with at least 40 percent of the student body categorized as economically disadvantaged.

But that doesn’t mean the state settles for less than stellar performances from the schools it recognizes. Schools of Promise are held to rigidly high academic standards. Eighty percent or more of students must have rated proficient in reading and math. Schools must have received an A or B on key segments of state achievement tests, including annual measurable objectives and high school graduation rates.

5 SCHOOLS EARN HIGH HONORS

In addition, all five of the Schools of Promise honorees in Mahoning and Trumbull counties went one step further. Each also distinguished itself as meeting the even higher and more stringent academic criteria to be named a High Performing School of Honor. Only nine other schools statewide managed to reach that pinnacle.

The School of Promise awards, implemented in 2003, are designed to recognize schools that are closing achievement gaps and producing high academic standards for all students, despite having student demographics often associated with low performance.

“Even as expectations rise, these communities continue to beat the odds,” said Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lonny J. Rivera. “Students of every background and ability level deserve the opportunity to succeed, and I’m especially proud of the difference these schools are making in the lives of Ohio’s students.”

What is making the difference? According to studies of winning schools, these variables tend to produce the best results: rigorous standards for instruction, teaching geared to all students’ success and parent and community involvement.

We’ve often argued of the necessity for such ingredients to achieve academic excellence – particularly the involvement of parents. As we congratulate the winning schools, we hope that others with similar demographics will work to mimic their success and make the Valley an even more distinctive center of promising scholarship next school year.