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Franklin Middle School earns gold award

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Staff Report 11:37 PM Thursday, October 22, 2009

FRANKLIN — Franklin Junior High School has received national recognition for raising students’ academic achievement.

The school was one of just seven in the country to earn the Making Middle Grades Work Gold Award for Improved Achievement.

“This was a pretty special honor, since only seven schools out of a possible 350 won this award,” said Principal Jim Martin.

“I’m very proud of the junior high school. They’ve made great gains in teaching and learning over the past few years,” said Superintendent Arnol Elam.

The gold award was given to schools that made the most progress on improving test scores in reading, math and science over a two-year period. Award-winning schools also met federal Adequate Yearly Progress goals.

The 350 participating schools are in 22 states that participate in the Making Middle Grades Work program, which Franklin City Schools has been a part of for five years.

Martin, who’s in his seventh year as principal at the junior high, said school staff members serve on one of four committees to work on the building’s MMGW program. One requirement of MMGW is for every school to have a three-year building improvement plan that focuses on increasing academic achievement. Improvement areas might include finding more ways to engage students, increasing parental involvement, and working to integrate writing in all areas of the curriculum.

Another requirement of MMGW is an assessment by an outside team that visits the building to observe what’s going on in the classrooms and then offers suggestions for improvement. Best practices are shared among participating schools.

Martin said the school continues to work on increasing the rigor of classes available to students so they go onto high school more prepared.

“It’s always nice to be recognized, but we also realize that there’s room for a lot more so we’re just going to continue to work,” Martin said.

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This is AWESOME news for the Franklin School District and it's a great compliment to its teaching staff!!! Too bad Middletown School District can’t hold a candle for Franklin. The award, for the perspective student’s sake, is just another reason to be VERY thankful that Middletown lost in the tax grab efforts!!!!! GO HAPPY WILDCATS!!!

Ray
8:42 AM, 10/23/2009

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This is AWESOME news for the Franklin School District and it's a great complement to its teaching staff!!! Too bad Middletown School District can’t hold a candle for Franklin. The award, for the perspective student’s sake, is just another reason to be VERY thankful that Middletown lost in the tax grab efforts!!!!! GO HAPPY WILDCATS!!!

Ray
8:39 AM, 10/23/2009

REPORT ABUSE

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