Marrington Middle Earns National Award

Release, Berkeley County School District:

At the 26th Annual High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference in New Orleans on  July 11, Marrington Middle School of the Arts was one of only eight middle schools across the country awarded with a national Making Middle Grades Work Award for Depth of Implementation.

Dave Spence, president of the Southern Regional Education Board, presented the award to Swati Linder, the school's band director, who represented the school's staff. before an audience of more than 5,000 educators from across the nation attending the High Schools That Work Conference.

Each year, the Award for Depth of Implementation is presented only to select schools meeting rigorous performance measures and demonstrating substantial gains in student achievement. Selected schools must effectively implement the Making Middle Grades Work design, have at least 50 percent of eighth graders completing a stringent curriculum in one or more subject areas, and meet the Adequate Yearly Progress criteria of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

"I am incredibly proud of Principal Spencer and the entire Marrington Middle School of the Arts (MMSOA) school community for this tremendous achievement," stated Berkeley County School District Superintendent Rodney Thompson. "We recognize that middle schools play critical roles in preparing students for success in high school and life. MMSOA exemplifies how strong leadership, effective teaching, great community and parental partners, and a clear strategy can positively impact students' academic performance."

MMSOA is an arts-infused school serving a neighborhood attendance zone while offering additional seats to other Berkeley County School District students interested in the innovative curriculum. Approximately 25 percent of enrolled students live in the neighborhood attendance zone, while 75 percent of its students come from across the county through the district's Special Talented Enrichment Program (STEP) arts program. Earning state and national recognition is not new for MMSOA. This year, MMSOA became the only middle school in the state in 10 years to be nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. For the past two years, the school has been named as a Gold Award Recipient in the Palmetto Awards Program for Achievement, earned Gold and Silver Palmetto Awards for Closing the Achievement Gap in 2011 and 2012 respectively, earned an Excellent absolute and growth rating on the state report card for two straight years, and continued to make Annual Yearly Progress with respect to No Child Left Behind.

"We are honored to receive this award and acknowledgement from the Southern Regional Education Board," expressed Principal Jim Spencer. "It is fitting that Ms. Linder represented our school at the conference; this achievement is a testament to great teaching and the work of our hard-working staff members who are committed each day to the successof our students. This award reaffirms our commitment. At MMSOA, we believe in the potential of each child."

More than 450 middle grades schools in 21 states participate in the Making Middle Grades Work school improvement initiative to create a culture of high expectations and prepare middle grades students for challenging high school courses and productive careers. MMGW was built on the success of the High Schools That Work model, the nation's first large-scale effort to engage state, district and school leaders in partnership with teachers, students, parents and the community. MMGW and HSTW work to equip all students with the knowledge and skills needed to graduate from high school and succeed in college and the workplace.