Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

May 10, 2006

“Gold Star” Schools to Be Honored
in Jefferson City — and Iraq

Seven high schools and three middle schools will be recognized Thursday (May 11) in Jefferson City as 2005-06 “Gold Star” schools.

Commissioner of Education D. Kent King will honor the 10 schools during the 2006 Gold Star Schools Forum at Capitol Plaza Hotel. The forum begins at 9:30 a.m. and will feature panel discussions on school and community partnerships, innovative methods and other topics.

     The Gold Star schools are:

• Brentwood High School

• Cole Camp High School

• Cooter High School

• Jefferson High School, Jefferson C-123 School District, Conception Junction

• Marion County High School, Philadelphia

• Memorial Middle School, Joplin School District

• Pierce City High School

• St. Elizabeth High School

• Sullivan Middle School

• T.S. Hill Middle School, Dexter School District

The Missouri National Guard will broadcast part of the event beginning at noon, via satellite, for Dr. Roger Alsup, principal of Hill Middle School in Dexter. Alsup is on active duty in Iraq.

The Gold Star schools met the same student performance criteria as the schools nominated for the national No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon Schools award. The schools are selected for their “high-level” achievement or “significant improvement” on the MAP communication arts and mathematics exams for each of the last three years. The significantly improved schools must serve 40 percent or more disadvantaged students. All of the schools also had to meet federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements for 2005.

The Gold Star Schools program was established in 1991 and is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Financial support is provided by State Farm Insurance Companies. A State Farm representative will present each of the schools with a plaque, banner and $500 check during the awards presentation, which begins at 1:15 p.m.