Oak Ridge Middle School Honored

Pictured left to right: Erica Rausch, Bob Read, Lisa Klein, and Victoria Wanda

Oak Ridge Middle School was one of five Iowa schools honored by the Iowa Department of Education with a Breaking Barriers to Teaching and Learning Award.

The award was presented to Oak Ridge Principal Erica Rausch in a ceremony held by the State Board of Education in Des Moines. The accolade recognizes the school’s efforts to raise achievement among groups of students who traditionally face challenges in the classroom.

Oak Ridge was recognized for having the highest proficiency rates in math and reading among specific subgroups of students. Those subgroups include those whose first language is not English and those from low-income backgrounds. The last three years of state assessment results were examined to confirm a positive trend for each school.

The school was chosen for their work with Hispanic students who are 98 percent proficient in reading and math. The statewide average is 66 percent.

Congratulations to Oak Ridge Middle School on this tremendous achievement!