High Performing Middle Grades Schools Share Strategies with Congress

Washington, DC – As another school year comes to a close, Congress continues to identify strategic investments to help the nation reach President Obama’s goal of graduating all students from high school college- and career-ready.  In response to this challenge, The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, NASSP, National Middle School Association, Alliance for Excellent Education and Honorary Co-host Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) hosted a Congressional briefing on Wednesday, June 22 to discuss the critical role that middle grades schools play in the PreK-12 continuum and to highlight the accomplishments of two high performing middle grades schools: Woodbridge Middle School located in Woodbridge, VA and M.O. Ramay Jr. High School located in Fayetteville, AR.

According to Woodbridge Middle School Principal Skyles Calhoun, “We believe in our students and maintain our focus on rigor, relevance and relationships.”  High achievement for all students is the goal of Woodbridge Middle School reform which includes focusing on the individual student; creating and offering support structures for students and teachers which includes same gender instruction and professional learning communities; and offering positive incentives and demanding positive attitudes.
Woodbridge Middle School was selected as a 2011 Schools to Watch recipient by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform which identifies and honors schools nationally so all might learn how to achieve academic success through best practices for all young adolescents.   Schools identified as Schools to Watch are academically excellent – challenging all students to use their minds well; developmentally responsive –  sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence; and socially equitable –democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources, and supports.

M.O. Ramay Jr. High School Principal Matt Saferite shared that his school’s mission is “To ensure high student satisfaction and high student success.”   To accomplish this goal, Saferite has lead an effort at M.O. Ramay which has focused on three key reform efforts: 1) focusing on the individual student; 2) offering additional rigorous academic course offerings and expanded extra-curricular activities; and 3) providing ongoing year-long professional development opportunities for staff.  M.O. Ramay was selected as a 2011 MetLife Foundation–NASSP Breakthrough School recipient.   The goal of the Breakthrough School project is to identify, recognize, and showcase middle level and high schools that serve large numbers of students living in poverty and are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement

 “I applaud the work of these talented educators who work tirelessly to provide an environment for their students where they will not only succeed academically, but also prepares them for success in high school and beyond,” stated Deborah Kasak, Executive Director, National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.   

The Congressional briefing highlighted that early warning indicators for students who are at-risk of not graduating from high school are evident by 6th grade, and that according to ACT, the level of academic achievement that students attain by eighth grade has a larger impact on students’ college- and career-readiness than anything that happens academically in high school.  As a result, more attention and resources must be spent on the middle-level grades if we want to meet President Obama’s and Congress’ goal of graduating all students college- and career-ready.