Delaware’s Secretary of Education Susan Bunting honored 17 schools for their academic achievement.
The state’s Recognition School awards were created by lawmakers in 2009. They acknowledge exceptional performance on state tests or progress in closing the achievement gap between student groups, including students from low-income homes, minority groups, or those with disabilities.
Bunting says it is important to reward schools that put their students first.
“They do what they do because they want students to be successful," said Bunting. "At the heart of what it is that they are attempting to do at each school, it’s to help students achieve. They want them to be very masterful readers and mathematicians, so they want them to be able to meet the standards that we have in the State of Delaware to be successful.”
17 schools were honored this year, each receiving an $8,000 award from the state’s School Improvement Fund.
Two were named a School of Continued Excellence for earning recognition in back to back years.
Jennifer Montanez is a fifth grade teacher at one of those two schools - Etta J. Wilson Elementary.
“We are focused on the child," said Montanez. "What can we do to make that child successful each and every single day. What interventions are working, which ones need to be changed. That’s our focus each and every single day.”
8 Sussex County schools were honored this year. Another 6 came from New Castle County and 3 more from Kent County.
Full list of the 2019 winners:
• Beacon Middle School, Cape Henlopen School District, Recognition School
• Christiana High School and Middle School Honors Academy, Christina School District, National ESEA Distinguished and Recognition School
• John M. Clayton Elementary School, Indian River School District, Recognition School
• Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Seaford School District, Recognition School
• Forest Oak Elementary School, Red Clay School District, Recognition School
• Allen Frear Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District, Recognition School
• Georgetown Middle School, Indian River School District, Recognition School
• Love Creek Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District, Recognition School
• R. Elisabeth Maclary Elementary School, Christina School District, Recognition School
• Joseph M. McVey Elementary School, Christina School District, Recognition School
• Milton Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District, Recognition School
• North Dover Elementary School, Capital School District, Recognition School
• Rehoboth Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District, National ESEA Distinguished and Recognition School
• Lulu M. Ross Elementary School, Milford School District, Recognition School
• Star Hill Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District, Recognition School
• West Park Place Elementary School, Christina School District, School of Continued Excellence
• Etta J. Wilson Elementary School, Christina School District, School of Continued Excellence
