Vol. 41, No. 72

December 19, 2007

CONTACT:  JIM MORRIS
Director, Public Information
573-751-3469

DESE Honors School Districts for "Distinction in Performance"
Gov. Blunt commends educators and students for progress

Nearly 300 Missouri school districts have earned the state’s prestigious “Distinction in Performance” award for academic progress and achievement during the last school year (2006-07), state education officials announced today.

A total of 294 school districts qualified for the annual recognition, which is determined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Of this year’s recipients, 247 are K-12 districts; 47 are K-8 districts.  Last year, 235 districts qualified for the award.

“Education is the most important, critical and significant investment we can make in our future,” Gov. Matt Blunt said.  “I pledged to the people of Missouri that my administration would renew our state’s commitment to education, and I have kept that pledge.  Education funding has been, and will continue to be, my highest budget priority. 

“I commend Missouri educators and students for their hard work and progress.  By maintaining a strong focus on achievement and accountability in all schools, we can help all students have a brighter future,” he said.

   

The Distinction in Performance award is based on the 14 academic performance standards that are now used in the accreditation of all public school districts.  K-8 school districts are covered by a portion of these standards.  The standards are based on scores from the state-mandated MAP tests, graduation rate, attendance, ACT scores, and other indicators.

To qualify for the award this year, K-8 districts had to meet 6 of 7 performance standards, including all of those based on the results of MAP tests.   K-12 districts had to meet 13 out of 14 standards, including all of the MAP-based measures.

Under the state’s accreditation process, known as the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP), each school district is evaluated at least once every five years.  The Distinction in Performance award is based on the same criteria used in the accreditation process, but it provides an annual confirmation and recognition of a district’s consistent performance.

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Distinction in Performance Awards

December 2007

K-12 Districts

Adair Co. R-I

Adair Co. R-II

Adrian

Advance

Affton

Albany

Alton

Archie

Ash Grove

Atlanta

Aurora

Ava

Ballard

Bell City

Bernie

Billings

Blair Oaks

Blue Springs

Bolivar

Branson

Brentwood

Bronaugh

Brookfield

Brunswick

Bucklin

Bunker

Butler

Cabool

Camdenton

Cameron

Canton

Cape Girardeau

Carl Junction

Carthage

Central R-III

Centralia

Chillicothe

Clark Co. R-I

Clayton

Clever

Clinton Co. R-III

Cole Camp

Cole Co. R-I

Cole Co. R-V

Columbia

Concordia

Cooper Co. R-IV

Cooter

Couch

Craig

Crawford Co. R-I

Crystal City

Dadeville

Delta R-V

Desoto

Dexter

Drexel

Dunklin R-V

East Buchanan Co. C-1

East Newton Co. R-VI

Elsberry

Fair Play

Fairfax

Farmington

Fayette

Festus

Fordland

Fox

Francis Howell

Fredericktown

Ft. Zumwalt

Fulton

Gainesville

Gallatin

Gasconade Co. R-I

Gasconade Co. R-II

Grain Valley

Greenfield

Grundy Co. R-V

Halfway

Hamilton

Hardin-Central

Harrisonville

Hartville

Henry Co. R-I

Hermitage

Hickory Co. R-I

Holden

Houston

Hurley

Independence

Iron Co. C-4

Jackson

Jasper Co. R-V

Jefferson C-123

Jefferson City

Johnson Co. R-VII

Joplin

Kearney

King City

Kirksville

Kirkwood

Knob Noster

Knox Co. R-I

La Plata

Laclede Co. R-I

Ladue

Lakeland

Lamar

Lathrop

Lawson

Lebanon

Lee's Summit

Leeton

Leopold

Lewis Co. C-1

Liberal

Liberty

Lincoln

Lindbergh

Lockwood

Logan-Rogersville

Lone Jack

Macon Co. R-I

Marceline

Marion Co. R-II

Marionville

Marshfield

Maryville

Maysville

Meadville

Mehlville

Meramec Valley

Miami R-I,  Bates County

Mid-Buchanan Co. R-V

Midway

Moberly

Monett

Moniteau Co. R-I

Monroe City

Montgomery Co. R-II

Mound City

Mt. Vernon

Neosho

Nevada

New Haven

Newtown-Harris

Niangua

Nixa

Norborne

North Andrew Co. R-VI

North Callaway Co. R-I

North Harrison R-III

North Kansas City

North Mercer Co. R-III

North Platte Co. R-I

North Shelby

Northeast Nodaway Co. R-V

Northeast Randolph Co. R-IV

Northwest

Norwood

Oran

Orchard Farm

Orrick

Osage Co. R-I

Osage Co. R-II

Osage Co. R-III

Osborn

Osceola

Otterville

Ozark

Palmyra

Park Hill

Parkway

Pattonville

Pettis Co. R-V

Pierce City

Plato

Platte Co. R-III

Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hope

Princeton

Putnam Co. R-I

Raymore-Peculiar

Reeds Spring

Republic

Richland R-I

Richland R-IV

Rock Port

Rockwood

Rolla

Salisbury

Santa Fe

Savannah

School of the Osage

Schuyler Co. R-I

Scotland Co. R-I

Scott Co. R-IV

Seneca

Shelby Co. R-IV

Sherwood Cass

Smithton

Smithville

South Callaway Co. R-II

South Harrison Co. R-II

South Holt Co. R-I

South Iron Co. R-I

South Nodaway Co. R-IV

Southern Boone Co.

Sparta

Spokane

St. Charles

St. Clair

St. Elizabeth

Stanberry

Ste. Genevieve Co. R-II

Stewartsville

Stockton

Stoutland

Strafford

Sullivan

Sweet Springs

Tarkio

Thayer

Tipton

Tri-County R-VII

Troy

Union

Valley Park

Walnut Grove

Warrensburg

Waynesville

Webb City

Webster Groves

Wellington-Napoleon

Wellsville Middletown

Wentzville

West Nodaway Co. R-I

West Plains

West Platte Co. R-II

West St. Francois Co. R-IV

Westran

Wheatland

Willard

Willow Springs

Windsor

Woodland

Zalma

K-8 Districts

Altenburg

Avenue City

Belleview

Boncl

Centerville

Dent-Phelps R-III

Fairview

Franklin Co. R-II

Glenwood

Gorin

Green Forest

Hardeman

High Point

Holliday

Howell Valley

Hudson

Jefferson Co. R-VII

Junction Hill

Kelso C-7

Kirbyville

Laclede Co. C-5

Laredo

Livingston Co. R-III

Lonedell

Luray

Manes

Miami R-I, Saline Co.

Mirabile

Missouri City

Nell Holcomb

New York

Oak Hil

Pettis Co. R-XII

Pleasant View

Raymondville

Richards

Richwoods

Ripley Co. R-III

Roscoe

Shawnee

Shell Knob

Spring Bluff

Strain-Japan

Strasburg

Taneyville

Thornfield

Westview