Primary School is Selected as a National Title I Distinguished School

The Primary School was selected on October 23 as a National Title I Distinguished School.  The Primary will receive national recognition by the National Association of State Title I Directors at the National Title I Conference on January 31, 2008, in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Primary was one of only six schools in the state to be considered for this honor.  In order to determine which two schools to nominate for this honor, a Peer Review Team under the direction of the Texas Education Agency, coordinated by Region 16 Education Service Center, conducted site visits to the schools in September.  The peer review team examined the overall academic program at the school, interviewed teachers, administrators, support staff, and parents.  The team observed classrooms throughout the two day visit and reviewed information submitted by the Primary to determine the extent to which:

·        The school provides opportunities for all children to achieve the state’s academic standards;

·        Professional development is intensive, sustained, and connected to the regular work of teachers and other school personnel;

·        All of the programs and services within the school are coordinated to provide efficient and highly effective assistance;

·        Curriculum and instruction have been designed and implemented to support the achievement of high academic standards;

·        There are broad, active, and powerful partnerships among schools, parents and communities; and

·        There is evidence of three years of high levels of academic achievement (considering issues such as retention rates, TAKS exemption rates, and other indicators of academic success, in addition to TAKS passing rates).

The Texas Education Agency announcement read “We are proud to have George West Primary School represent the state as one of the highest rated Title I Distinguished Schools.  Your administration, faculty, students, parents, and community are to be congratulated for their commitment to developing and maintaining a quality program, which serves as an example for other schools to follow.”

This is the second National Award the Primary has received during the last three years.  The Primary was recognized in 2006 as a 2004-2005 No Child Left Behind National Blue Ribbon School.

The Primary School would like to thank the staff, students, parents, administration, and school board for their hard work the last several years.  We are very proud of the high levels of student achievement that has become the norm at George West Primary.