The staff and students at R.C. Waters Elementary School in Oak Harbor, serving students in grades K—3 in the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District, have earned the award of being named a “High Progress School of Honor” by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). R.C. Waters Elementary School was the only school in Ottawa County to earn this award!
ODE recognized more than three dozen Ohio schools for improving academic achievement among their students, including many from economically disadvantaged homes. According to the department, "High Progress Schools of Honor" score in the top 10 percent of schools as ranked by gains in reading and mathematics combined proficiency in all tested grades for the past five years. They also are in the top 10 percent for gains in graduation rate during the past five years. The department also considers Adequate Yearly Progress, Value-Added measures of student growth and Local Report Card ratings when determining award selection.
"High Progress Schools of Honor establish an educational goal for their students and continue to pursue and exceed that goal each year," said Richard A. Ross, state superintendent of public instruction. "The principals, teachers, parents and community members provide a high-quality education and believe that children can overcome significant challenges, and that they can learn."
R. C. Waters Elementary was also named a “School of Promise” about a month ago. The Schools of Promise award program recognizes schools attaining solid student achievement in reading and mathematics while serving a significant number of economically disadvantaged students.
B-C-S School District Superintendent Guy Parmigian commented, “The entire B-C-S School District community is very proud of the two recent awards earned by R.C. Waters Elementary School. The awards are proof of the extraordinary progress that can be made for students when staff, families, and community come together in a common purpose.”