Double honors for Van Buren County schools

The Tennessee Department of Education has announced the school and district designations for the 2021-22 school year, which includes the highest performing schools and districts for academic achievement and student growth. Across the state, 427 schools spanning 92 districts received designation as a Reward school, and 16 districts received designation as an Exemplary district. This year, the Van Buren County School System has been lauded as receiving double honors, both as an Exemplary system and as a Reward School for Van Buren County Middle/High School.

Each year, schools are eligible for four types of designations based upon their overall performance across indicators that are essential to student success, including how the school prepared students to be proficient (Achievement), accelerated student learning (Growth), encouraged students to attend school regularly (Chronically Out of School), prepared students for postsecondary success (Graduation Rate and Ready Graduate), and supported English learners acquiring language skills.

Schools are recognized as a Reward school when they demonstrate high levels of performance and/or improvement in performance by meeting their annual measurable objectives across performance indicators and student groups, and the Reward school distinction places significant emphasis on improvement from the prior school year. Reward schools are generally those that are improving in terms of both achievement and growth for all students and student groups. These schools are identified annually. From the 2021-22 TCAP administration, a significant number of schools saw improvement and increased participation in this year’s assessments to qualify for the distinction.

“Tennessee students, families, educators, and school communities have worked hard to overcome a variety of challenges stemming from the pandemic, and I congratulate them on their efforts,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Our teachers and school and district leaders focus on helping students improve every day, and we will continue to focus on student achievement, as well as growth, so that all students are set on a path to success.”

The Exemplary districts across the state are as follows:

-Williamson County Schools

-Van Buren County Schools

-Trousdale County Schools,

-Tennessee Schools for the Deaf

-Newport City Schools

-Meigs County Schools

-Lexington County Schools

-Lewis County Schools,

-Lakeland County Schools

-Greeneville City Schools

-Greene County Schools

-Etowah City Schools

-Dayton City Schools

-Collierville Schools

-Bells City Schools

-Athens City Schools

“Van Buren County Schools is thrilled to be named by the Tennessee Department of Education as an Exemplary School District for the 2021-22 school year,” said Cheryl Cope, Director of Schools for Van Buren County. “This award makes it clear that the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of everyone who is part of our school system does reap positive rewards. Our teachers and staff have worked extremely hard to focus on strengthening foundational skills in math and reading after many difficult days during and after the pandemic. Van Buren Schools may be small, but we are mighty in many respects. I look forward to great accomplishments in the future for our school community.”

“On behalf of Van Buren County High School, we are so proud of our staff and students for earning the distinction of a Tennessee Reward School for the first time in our school’s history. This honor reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone who is a part of the Van Buren County School district. This accolade is a true testament to what we see daily taking place inside and outside the classrooms at VBHS and is an extension of our community as a whole. Together, we will celebrate this success and look forward to where we go from here,” said Katina Simmons, Principal of Van Buren Middle/High School.

Amanda Binkley, Spencer Elementary Principal said, “I am honored to be a part of the Van Buren County School System and to learn we have been recognized as an Exemplary school district. It is rewarding to see faculty and staff receive the positive, public recognition they deserve for their diligent and intentional efforts that we see behind the scenes here every single day.”