Four Virginia Beach elementary schools have earned 2008 Title I Distinguished School honors from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Green Run, Plaza, Rosemont, and Windsor Oaks elementary schools are four of the six local schools to be so honored.

To be worthy of this award, schools must meet federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics, maintain math and English test scores at the 60th percentile or higher, and be fully accredited under the Commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years. According to the state VDOE, a Title I Distinguished School is typically recognized for raising the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students while exceeding federal objectives and state accreditation standards.

Green Run Elementary principal Ron Sykes credits several factors for his school’s success, pointing out that this is the second consecutive year the school has received this honor. According to Sykes, once again this year the entire school community – students, teachers, administrators, and support staff – made a concerted effort to do its very best and maintain that goal all year. “It is so important that we focus on the data provided us through local assessments and SOL tests so that we meet each student’s learning needs,” comments Sykes. “In addition, staff members meet regularly to monitor progress, and data analysis is applied to instructional improvement for all subgroups identified by No Child Left Behind,” he adds.

Plaza Elementary School principal Mary Daniels also credits the hard work of her staff in focusing on students’ individual needs and responding to them for this honor bestowed on Plaza. She comments, “The school’s dedicated staff and students working together and focusing on targeted instructional goals made all the difference. We are so proud that we received this honor. Our entire school community deserves recognition for all its hard work.” Plaza Elementary was also named a Title I Distinguished School in 2006.

Rosemont Elementary principal Dr. Miriam Freeman says that her students’ academic success this year stems from their hard work and determination to do well.“ Rosemont teachers and staff have committed themselves to continuous improvement of student achievement. They have held students to high standards and our students, in turn, have responded by doing very well academically. I could not be more pleased, or proud, of our entire Rosemont Elementary School community,” says Dr. Freeman.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Windsor Oaks Elementary has been named a Title I Distinguished School. Once again principal Michael Maloney attributes the school’s success to the staff’s practice of analyzing data, breaking it down to assist teachers in identifying learning trends across the grade levels. As he points out, teachers focus on weaker areas and concentrate on those. “Our teachers are outstanding,” says Maloney. “Everyone cooperates and collaborates at Windsor Oaks. I believe that makes all the difference. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have classroom and Title I teachers working in tandem,” says Maloney.

Each 2008 Title I Distinguished School will receive a framed certificate to commemorate its achievement.

Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB) provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk. The federal education law requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics. Seventeen Virginia Beach elementary schools are designated Title I schools.

For more information about the 2008 Title I Distinguished School awards, please call the main office of each school honored: Green Run Elementary, 427-6500; Plaza Elementary, 648-3400; Rosemont Elementary, 648-3600; and Windsor Oaks Elementary, 648-4120.

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