Truman Middle School has been named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
Ten schools in Missouri — eight public and two private — including three middle schools, have been selected for this prestigious honor. Nationwide, 335 schools — 285 public and 50 private — earned the 2015 honor, according to an announcement made today by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Truman Middle School is the sixth Lindbergh school in five years to earn the National Blue Ribbon Award. Past recipients include Crestwood Elementary School (2011), Lindbergh High School (2012), Sappington Elementary School (2013), Concord Elementary School (2014) and Long Elementary School (2014).
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement. To qualify in the “Exemplary High Performing” category, Truman was recognized among the state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
“This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” Duncan said in a video message to the awardees. “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence — in vision, in implementation, and in results — and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”
As Truman Middle School enters its fifth year of operation, teachers and administrators collaborate to tackle a steady stream of increasing enrollment while continuing a strong tradition of high achievement. Each day, 772 students enter Truman ready to learn, and they are met with engaging interdisciplinary learning experiences that help them grow.
“Students who attend Truman Middle School are well-prepared for high school and beyond,” Principal Tara Sparks stated in a news release. “Truman has maintained its academic excellence in spite of larger class sizes by employing cooperative learning strategies and targeted, small group instruction. Our success also is a result of our school community’s collaborative nature, which includes strong family and school partnerships, and a focus on professional learning communities.”
Teachers meet in professional learning communities on a regular basis to analyze student learning data and plan rich lessons based on student needs. Grade-level team teachers also collaborate to create engaging interdisciplinary lessons and foster student growth.
