BY PAUL SLOTH
Journal Times | Posted: Saturday, December 1, 2007 12:00 am
RACINE - Lauren Morgan and Max Widmar like their school.
The two sixth-graders smile sheepishly when called away from their classmates at Starbuck Middle School to talk about why they like it.
They know it's a good school, they didn't know it was exemplary, at least not until their teacher told them.
Staff and students learned this week that the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators recognized Starbuck as an exemplary middle school, one of 90 middle schools in the state to receive the award.
The award focused on improvements Starbuck students made on math scores, but Morgan knows being exemplary isn't just about test scores.
"It's caring," Morgan said about the school. Morgan and her classmates had just returned from an assembly about bullying on Friday.
The award surprised Sandra Brand, Starbuck's principal. She received a letter from the association informing her that the school received the award.
"I didn't know anything about the award," Brand said. "I was not even aware that they gave it."
The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators represents principals throughout the state at each level of K-12 education.
The association started the award program this year because officials wanted to find a way to recognize middle schools, which often are overlooked being sandwiched between elementary schools and high schools.
The association didn't just want to have the top scoring schools.
Organizers wanted to recognize schools that improved test scores in subjects like reading and math, said Tina Hogle, the association's assistant director. There were 363 schools eligible for the award.
"It's time that middles schools get some recognition for the good work that they're doing," Hogle said. "One of the things we're hoping, by recognizing the good things going on it these schools, is that we'll be able to kind of tap into the practices taking place in those schools and share the information across the state."
Morgan and Widmar played a game Friday with the rest of their classmates in Michelle Fritsch's math class as part of their unit on decimals.
The school has taught math a little differently.
When members of the staff noticed the student's math scores weren't where they should be, they decided to change how they organized their classes, grouping students by their ability level.
It seems to have made a difference.
Organizers noticed that Starbuck students' math scores had improved.
"It's great to see that we're making strides," Fritsch said. "The kids work really hard. I'm glad to see their hard work paid off."
The teachers also used computerized tests - Measures of Academic Progress - that all Unified schools use for tracking each student, to determine where they needed to improve.
Teachers realized their students scored low in measurement, while they scored higher in statistics and probability, Brand said. The entire building started working on improving test scores.
Brand said the award meant a lot to all the staff members, who have been working to improve academic achievement throughout the school.
"It makes them feel great. It's as though someone is noticing their hard work," Brand said. "Any kind of recognition like that, especially when it's unsolicited, is very much appreciated."
Schools that receive the designation can apply to become a Middle School of Excellence. After receiving the award, Fritsch said she and her students wouldn't stop working to improve because, "Once you're there, you want to stay there; you want to stay at the top."
Fritsch said some of the myths about middle school students aren't true. They're not as scary as people make them out to be.
"They care. They want to succeed. They want to reach their goals," Fritsch said.