Home News MIDDLE SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL EQUITY

MIDDLE SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL EQUITY

2/14/2020

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Muller Road Middle is the latest Richland Two School to be named a South Carolina School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Muller Road’s emphasis on strong academics, sensitivity to young adolescents’ needs and interests, and commitment to providing all students equal access to a high-quality education resulted in the well-deserved recognition. Four South Carolina schools were honored with the designation.

In addition, the National Forum announced that Blythewood Middle School was re-designated for the fourth time. It was first recognized as a School to Watch 12 years ago.

Schools are recognized for a three-year period, at the end of which they must apply for re-designation and demonstrate that they are continuing to meet the National Forum’s rigorous criteria.

To be selected as a School to Watch, schools need to be:
·         Academically excellent. Is the curriculum rigorous and relevant to the real world?
·         Developmentally responsive. Do students have a safe, healthy and personalized learning environment that is responsive to the unique needs and interests of young adolescents?
·         Socially equitable. Do all students have access to high-quality classes and the support they need to achieve at high levels?
·         Organized with supportive structure. Is there shared leadership, collaborative learning communities, targeted professional development, and effective organizational structures?

The schools will be recognized at the South Carolina Middle School Conference in Myrtle Beach on March 2, 2020 and will be recognized this summer in Washington, DC at the National Schools to Watch Conference.

In 2006, South Carolina became a state Schools to Watch state by the National Forum to replicate the Schools to Watch program as a way to identify high-performing middle grades schools to serve as models of excellence for other schools. The program is sponsored by the South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education and the Center for Educational Partnerships at USC.