Vol, 7, No. 2: January 14, 2008		Get SEAchange by email

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3. Wisconsin schools in the news

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster commended schools and communities throughout the state for being named to various lists regarding education.

The Madison metro area claimed the No. 2 spot on Forbes magazine’s national list of “Top 20 Places to Educate your Child.” The Milwaukee, Waukesha, West Allis metro area ranked 17 on the same list.

“Congratulations to these schools and communities,” Burmaster said. “I am proud that so many of our schools earned top honors as each school and community embraces our New Wisconsin Promise to provide a quality education for every child.”

Burmaster also recognized 90 middle schools that received certificates as Exemplary Middle Schools in the Association of Wisconsin School Administrator’s (AWSA’s) new Wisconsin Middle School of Excellence Award program. “Success in middle school builds on the foundation for future success in high school and beyond,” she said.

A total of 363 middle schools were reviewed for the AWSA recognition program. Schools that demonstrated high reading and math scores, rapid growth in reading and math scores, or notable growth in these scores for a school with a high poverty population, were invited to apply for the Wisconsin Middle School of Excellence Award. Applications will be rated based on collaborative leadership and professional learning communities; personalization and the school environment; and curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The 2007-08 awards will be presented at the AWSA Middle Level Commission Conference in Stevens Point on Feb. 14.

Another national publication, U.S. News and World Report, in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, reviewed 18,790 public high schools in 40 states for its list of America’s Best High Schools. Kickapoo High School in Viola, Nicolet High School in Glendale, and Shorewood High School earned silver awards. Another 56 Wisconsin high schools were among 1,086 that earned bronze awards.

More information is available in a DPI news release.

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Last updated on 1/14/2008