Seven schools in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools will be recognized by the Kansas State Department of Education for making a notable difference in student achievement.
The KCKPS schools are part of 100 schools in the state that will receive “The Challenge Award” for outstanding achievement on the 2021 math and reading assessment results
The schools:
• Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Emerson Elementary School
• Bertram Caruthers Elementary School
• John Fiske Elementary School
• Mark Twain Elementary School
• Thomas A. Edison Elementary School
• Arrowhead Middle School
The honor highlights students’ academic achievement in schools despite the significant socioeconomic challenges they face in their lives, according to the school district.
“This honor is one example of the many success stories taking place in our schools every day. Despite the challenges many of our students face, the teachers, support staff, and principals prioritize meeting our students’ academic and social-emotional needs,” said Dr. Anna Stubblefield, superintendent of schools.
“As the principal of Arrowhead Middle School, I’m incredibly honored and proud of our staff and students!” Elvira Hurley said. “The staff has worked tirelessly over the past year to see that our students are achieving at every level. The staff continued to create highly rigorous and engaging lessons for our students to maintain quality Tier 1 Instruction. Even with the many challenges, they kept standards high for themselves and their students. We look forward to ending the year strong.”
In addition to the sample size, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, several other qualifying factors were used to identify Challenge Award honorees.
• A statistical model is used that includes 2021 math and reading state assessment scores, percent of the sample that received free or reduced-price lunch, and the percent that was a member of an ethnic minority. Graduation rates and chronic absenteeism are factors, too. The top 100 Kansas schools are then selected.
• Only schools that have a total percentage of free and reduced-price lunch students above the state average of 45.7 percent are eligible for recognition.
• The schools are then sorted into the State Board of Education districts.
“All staff at John Fiske love to serve the Fiske families and students of the Armourdale Community in Kansas City, Kansas. We are honored to receive this award as we continue to collaborate around implementing the best strategies for improving student achievement and learning,” Joe Graham, principal, said. “Our overall goal is meeting the needs of all our Lions.”
“I am so proud and excited for KCK USD 500 for having seven schools recognized as Challenge Award recipients. The Challenge Award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishment based upon Kansas Assessment results,” said Janet Waugh, vice chair of the Kansas State Board of Education.
- Story from Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools