NPS has third-highest number of state ‘Reward’ schools
04/09/2012 15:34
NPS has third-highest number of state ‘Reward’ schools;
SBE reports all NPS schools meeting or surpassing state, federal benchmarks
NORMAN - Norman Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano congratulated the eight NPS schools that have been named "Reward Schools” by the state Board of Education (SBE). Reward schools are a new school designation created by the SBE, which conferred the distinction on only about 7 percent of the state’s schools (127 Reward Schools out of nearly 1,800 total schools statewide) this morning during its meeting in Oklahoma City.
The eight Reward schools in NPS are:
- Alcott Middle School
- Cleveland Elementary
- McKinley Elementary
- Norman High School
- Norman North High School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
- Whittier Middle School
Reward schools are those schools identified as being the highest achieving in all state assessments or having high progress in reading and mathematics. Siano said the new designation of Reward school was created in the state's No Child Left Behind waiver, which was recently granted by the U.S. Department of Education. The waiver indicated that Oklahoma would identify schools at both the highest and lowest performing on the academic spectrum.
Norman had no schools identified as low performing by the SBE. One-third of its schools were considered the highest performing in the state, and all schools were found to be meeting or surpassing state and federal benchmarks.
"The eight Reward Schools in Norman have been recognized as achieving the highest above state and federal benchmarks for student performance and we commend them," Siano said. "We are also pleased that all NPS schools are meeting and/or exceeding state and federal guidelines for student performance. Norman Public Schools are committed to continued reform as we strive to assure success of all of our students."
