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North Kirkwood Middle School Nominated as National Blue Ribbon School
North Kirkwood Middle School (NKMS) in the Kirkwood School District (KSD) has been nominated by Missouri to join the esteemed community of National Blue Ribbon Schools.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools that are producing outstanding results for all students. They have demonstrated consistent excellence and made progress in closing gaps in student achievement. The National Blue Ribbon Schools recognition program is part of a larger U. S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about effective school leadership and promising instructional practices.
NKMS was nominated as an Exemplary High Performing School.
According to the U.S. Department of Education website, “Exemplary High Performing Schools” are defined as a “school in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state ranked on the performance of all students who participated in the most recently administered state assessments in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics, or a composite index that includes these assessment results and may also include assessment results in other subject areas and/or other student performance measures, such as graduation rates or other indicators in the State accountability system. Also, for each of the school's subgroups meeting the State's minimum size requirement, the school must be in the top 40 percent of all public schools in the state when schools are ranked on: the performance of all students in the subgroup who participated in the most recently administered state assessments in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics, or a composite index that includes these assessment results and may also include assessment results in other subject areas and/or other student performance measures, such as graduation rates or other indicators in the State accountability system.”
Dr. Tim Cochran, principal of NKMS, is excited about this opportunity for the school. “The NKMS community is thrilled to be nominated,” said Cochran. “North was awarded the high honor back in 1996. This nomination is a testament to the hard work our faculty, staff, students, parents and community make possible to foster student achievement and success.”
Dr. David Ulrich, superintendent of KSD, echoed Cochran’s sentiment. “I am proud to see the commitment and dedication at North Kirkwood recognized,” said Ulrich.
Since its inception in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized more than 9,000 Great American Schools. Each year, representatives of newly recognized schools gather for a ceremony in Washington, DC where their achievement is officially honored by the U.S. Department of Education. This prestigious award galvanizes school communities and generates inspiring school success stories for the media. It also draws professional and public interest and offers recipients new opportunities to share their hard-won knowledge in districts, states and beyond.
Up to eight outstanding public schools can be nominated from Missouri for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award. NKMS will submit an application, due in April, for Nation Blue Ribbon recognition.
In September 2021, the U.S. Secretary of Education will announce the National Blue Ribbon Schools.