Truman Middle School is one of eight high-achieving public schools statewide that were recognized Thursday by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as 2015 Missouri Gold Star Schools.
The announcement brings Lindbergh’s total number of Gold Star recipients to eight — including Lindbergh High School; Sperreng Middle School; and Concord, Crestwood, Kennerly, Long and Sappington elementary schools.
The Gold Star Schools program is designed to identify schools that perform at a high level academically or have made exceptional progress while serving a significant portion of disadvantaged students. Truman was selected based on its outstanding academic achievement. The school ranked No. 2 overall among sixth- to eighth-grade middle schools, and had the highest math proficiency in the state in 2014.
“At Truman, our students come to school ready to learn,” Principal Tara Sparks stated in a district news release. “The culture of learning is apparent in the dedication of our teachers, students and families, and as a result, we have a collaborative community where ongoing academic achievement is a priority.”
Sparks also attributed Truman’s success to the continual revision of teaching and learning practices, focused on meeting the needs of each individual student.
“We are extremely proud to add Truman Middle School to our list of Missouri Gold Star Schools,” Superintendent Jim Simpson stated in the release. “Truman’s academic success is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of students, parents and staff.”
This is actually Truman’s third Gold Star in the school’s history. The first two were earned when Truman was an elementary school, in 1999 and 2009. Truman reopened as a middle school in 2011.
The Gold Star Schools program was established by DESE in 1991 and aligns with the national Blue Ribbon Schools program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Recipients of the state’s award have been nominated for national Blue Ribbon recognition. Blue Ribbon Schools must meet additional criteria and will be announced this fall by the U.S. Department of Education.
Lindbergh is home to six National Blue Ribbon Schools, including Concord, Crestwood, Long, Sappington, Sperreng and Lindbergh High School.
