CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education announced the 2014-2015 Reward Schools list Thursday. Forty-two schools statewide were honored for high performance and progress.
The state DOE determined where schools were placed on the list based on results from the WESTEST2 conducted in the spring of 2014.
Melanie Purkey, executive director of the state DOE Office of Federal Programs, said the Reward Schools are identified in two categories.
High Performing Reward Schools exhibit the top 10% highest absolute performance and do not have persistent achievement gaps between student groups. High Progress Reward Schools are transition schools that look at progress in the growth component of the WV Accountability Index with no significant achievement gaps across student groups.
Purkey said some West Virginia schools may fall under both categories.
“You may also be a school that is not in that top 10% of performance yet, but your student performance is improving at a higher rate than other schools in the state,” said Purkey.
Evans Elementary School in Jackson County is listed as both a High Performing and High Progress Reward School. Evans also received the same award recognition the previous school year for 2013-2014.
Matthew Howery, the principal at Evans, said he believes their performance is being recognized because they value education through a team effort between students, teachers, and parents.
“Not only do our teachers work hard with some of our students that may struggle, but then we also get parent assistance,” said Howery, “When everybody works together in a student’s best interest great things can happen.”
Howery said they focus on students who may struggle in school by offering extra help during the school day with reading teachers and after school tutoring.
Howery said they plan to maintain their success by continuing to offer these programs. He said the job as a teacher is never “done.”
“Each year there is a new crop of kids that come in and if you stop working to get better, you’ll only get worse. You need to recognize their weaknesses and strengths and you work to continue to develop them,” said Howery.
For High Performance Reward Schools, the 2014-2015 county list includes and lists the schools who received the same honor in 2013-2014:
Hardy:
East Hardy High
Harrison:
Bridgeport High, 2013-2014
Jackson:
Evans Elementary, 2013-2014
Kanawha:
George Washington High, 2013-2014
John Adams Middle, 2013-2014
Kenna Elementary, 2013-2014
Montrose Elementary
Marion:
Pleasant Valley Elementary, 2013-2014
White Hall Elementary, 2013-2014
Mineral:
New Creek Primary
Monongalia:
Suncrest Middle, 2013-2014
Nicholas:
Panther Creek Elementary, 2013-2014
Ohio:
Steenrod Elementary, 2013-2014
West Liberty Elementary, 2013-2014
Punam:
West Teays Elementary, 2013-2014
Raleigh:
Crescent Elementary, 2013-2014
Webster:
Hacker Valley Elementary
Wood:
Greenmont Elementary
For High Progress Reward Schools, the 2014-2015 county list includes and lists the schools who received the same honor in 2013-2014:
Boone:
Ashford-Rumble Elementary
Gilmer:
Normantown Elementary
Sand Fork Elementary
Greenbrier:
White Sulphur Elementary
Hancock:
New Manchester Elementary
Hardy:
East Hardy High
Jackson:
Evans Elementary, 2013-2014
Fairplain Elementary
Jefferson:
Ranson Elementary, 2013-2014
Kanawha:
Belle Elementary
Cross Lanes Elementary
Pinch Elementary
Weberwood Elementary
Marion:
Monongah Middle
Pleasant Valley Elementary, 2013-2014
Mingo:
Gilbert Elementary
Monongalia:
Suncrest Middle, 2013-2014
Monroe:
Peterstown Middle
Nicholas:
Glade Creek Elementary, 2013-2014
Mt Nebo Elementary
Panther Creek Elementary, 2013-2014
Ohio:
Steenrod Elementary
Pendleton:
Brandywine Elementary, 2013-2014
Pocahontas:
Hillsboro Elementary
Raleigh:
Crescent Elementary, 2013-2014
Taylor:
Flemington Elementary, 2013-2014