Hamilton Elementary School in La Crosse has been named a Title I School of Recognition as a Beating the Odds School by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Schools from around the state learned this week that they are among 135 being recognized for their success in educating students. All of the schools receive federal Title I funding to provide services to high numbers or high percentages of economically disadvantaged families.
“The state’s Title I Schools of Recognition awards recognize the efforts of students, their families, teachers, school administrators, and school staff members to break the link between poverty and low academic achievement,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers. “Their success is something to celebrate.”
The schools will be honored during a May 21 ceremony at the State Capitol. Schools meeting all criteria will receive a plaque at the awards ceremony. Additionally, five schools will receive commemorative flags for earning the award for five consecutive years. One school — Marengo Valley School in the Ashland School District — has earned the award for all 15 years of the program.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our students, staff, and families,” said Hamilton principal Steve Michaels. “This recognition is an acknowledgment of all of the incredibly hard work and commitment in our school and from our school community to using all available resources to help our students achieve academic success.”
The 2018 Title I Schools of Recognition include 24 High-Achieving schools, 40 High-Progress schools, and 87 Beating-the-Odds schools. Sixteen schools have earned honors in two categories. This year’s 135 Title I School of Recognition Award recipients include 111 elementary schools serving K-8 students, 18 middle or junior high schools, and six high schools.
All Wisconsin Title I Schools of Recognition receive federal Title I aid because they have significant numbers of students from low-income families based on the National School Lunch Act income guidelines. Also, all schools must meet criteria including at least 95 percent test participation, a dropout rate of less than six percent, and an absenteeism rate of less than 13 percent.
Schools of Recognition Selection Criteria
Beginning in 2012-13, DPI expanded the Title I Rewards Program to include High Progress and High-Achieving Schools. This expansion represents Title I schools that will serve as a model for all schools across the state striving to meet our nation’s new accountability measures and Wisconsin’s goals to improve graduation rates and close college and career readiness gaps.
All Wisconsin Title I Schools of Recognition receive federal Title I aid because they have significant numbers of students from low-income families based on the National School Lunch Act income guidelines. Also, all schools must meet criteria including at least 95 percent test participation, a dropout rate of less than six percent, and an absenteeism rate of less than 13 percent.
Additional award criteria include:
High-Achieving Schools
- have achievement gaps that are less than three (3) percentage points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps greater than three (3) percentage points and
- demonstrate high achievement at the school level across content areas
High-Progress Schools
- fall within the top 10 percent of schools experiencing student growth in reading and mathematics for elementary and middle school students or the top 10 percent of schools with the greatest improvement in high school graduation rates, and
- have achievement gaps that are less than three (3) percentage points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps greater than three (3) percentage points
Beating the Odds Schools
- are in the top 25 percent of high-poverty schools in the state, and
- have above-average student achievement in reading and mathematics when compared to schools from similarly sized districts, schools, grade configurations, and poverty levels