Cooperating School Districts Recognizes Local Missouri Gold Star Schools
The Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis, Inc. (CSD) recognized six area Missouri Gold Star schools on September 27 during CSD’s Fall Conference of Superintendents and Board Members, which was held at Jennings High School. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has conducted the Gold Star Schools program since 1991-92.
The six Missouri State Gold Star Award schools from this area are:
• Avery Elementary School, Webster Groves School District
• Brennan Woods Elementary School, Northwest R-1 School District
• Conway Elementary School, Ladue School District
• Nike Elementary School, Meramec Valley School District
• Westchester Elementary School, Kirkwood School District
• Wright City Elementary School, Wright City School District
The Missouri State Gold Star Award program now operates in conjunction with the national Blue Ribbon Schools program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Missouri’s Gold Star Schools must meet the academic performance criteria used to evaluate schools in the Blue Ribbon program. 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. In addition, Gold Star Schools must complete a written application to provide evidence that they are using research-based strategies and practices to improve student achievement.
In addition, three of the six elementary schools have been named as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. They are: Brennan Woods Elementary School (Northwest R-1 School District); Conway Elementary School (Ladue School District); and Westchester Elementary School (Kirkwood School District). The 2007 Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored in Washington, D.C. on November 12-13.
