Prairie Ridge's Student Services Department Receives National Recognition

Prairie Ridge High School will receive the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation during the American School Counselor Association’s annual conference later this year. The Student Services department at Prairie Ridge created and implemented a developmental guidance curriculum which was implemented at every grade level and focused on academics, college and career, and social and emotional support.

“I am proud of the Student Services department at Prairie Ridge for their hard work and dedication to our D155 students and families. This prestigious certification recognizes the programs and services we have in place to ensure that all students succeed,” said Dr. Johnnie Thomas, superintendent.

The Student Services department has pursued this certification for the past two years. The 12 part application is reviewed by committee members who receive national training. The process was complex and required the department to evaluate services, analyze the effectiveness and its impact on students.

“The process gave us an opportunity to audit our services against a national model. We validated many things we already do well, and we created new programs and systems to better support our students’ needs. We took a high functioning system and made it even stronger, and the PR community can be proud of the level of support we offer our students,” said Dr. Steve Koch, Prairie Ridge High School principal.​

Since 2004, only about 50 schools in Illinois, and 600 schools nationwide, have achieved this distinction.

“This is a tribute to the hard work and commitment to help students displayed by staff members in Student Services on a daily basis. It reflects the department’s commitment to excellence when working with students, parents, and staff at Prairie Ridge High School,” said Julia Nadler, Student Services coordinator.

Prairie Ridge will be honored on July 11 during ASCA’s annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.