Based on preliminary reports from state education officials, the Lindbergh and Mehlville school districts achieved Distinction in Performance for the 2006-2007 academic year.

Lindbergh met all 14 performance indicators now used for accreditation of school districts and Mehlville met 13 of those 14 indicators, according to the Nov. 1 release of Annual Performance Reports, APRs, from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or DESE.

The report measures progress on meeting six academic standards represented by 14 specific performance indicators. Official APR results for all school districts will be released in December.

This marks the seventh consecutive year that Lindbergh has reached Distinction in Performance. Mehlville now has achieved Distinction in Performance for the second straight year.

To qualify for the Distinction in Performance Award, a school district had to meet 13 out of 14 performance indicators, including all Missouri Assessment Program-based measures.

Besides MAP scores, other standards are: ACT Scores, Advanced Placement Courses, Career Education Courses, College Placement, Career Education Placement, Graduation Rate, Attendance Rate and Sub-group Achievement.

The Lindbergh School District not only met, but also exceeded all 14 performance indicators for a perfect score, according to a district news release.

“The perfect score can be attributed to two things — students are really working hard and taking learning seriously, and teachers are really working hard,” Chuck Triplett, Lindbergh director of curriculum and student programs, stated in the release.

Lindbergh Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Nancy Rathjen also noted that with standards accelerating for each school district in every year, achieving Distinction in Performance shows a steady improvement in the district over time.

“In the past five years, we have made tremendous strides in meeting the mandates of No Child Left Behind,” Rathjen stated in the release. “Each year, the district has invested in more support for students and teachers in order to increase student achievement. Students and teachers have made the best use of that support to continue taking achievement to the next level. Our scores have moved steadily up over this five year period.”

Mehlville Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Connie Hurst-Bayless also pointed out that with the percentage of students required to meet DESE standards increasing each year in all 14 categories, the task of educating students grows more difficult with each academic year.

And with Mehlville meeting standards in all categories except subgroup achievement, Hurst-Bayless said the district will identify steps needed to meet all 14 indicators next year.

“I think any time you don’t lose ground is so important when the stakes keep getting higher and higher,” Hurst-Bayless said. “So we’re pleased with our scores. But we definitely want to improve our subgroups.”

Jerry Chambers, who served as Mehlville’s interim superintendent during the 2006-2007 school year before current Superintendent Terry Noble began his tenure at the start of the 2007-2008 school year, said he is proud of students, staff members and parents for helping Mehlville achieve Distinction in Performance for the second straight year.

“My sincere appreciation goes out to our staff, particularly our classroom teachers, who rolled up their sleeves during a difficult time to do their best in teaching and motivating our students,” Chambers said. “They are true professionals …”

“The bulk of the credit for student achievement during the 2006-2007 school year must go to the students who learned and who proved their achievements by taking the tests. Congratulations to them and huge thanks to the staff members and parents who helped make it all happen,” he added.