Plum Grove Junior High School
 A U.S. Department of Education
Blue Ribbon School
1997-1998
Plum Grove Junior High School is one of seven Community Consolidated School District 15 schools to have earned the prestigious Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education. One-third of the district’s schools have earned Blue Ribbon designation.
What is a Blue Ribbon school?
Since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon program has been spotlighting schools from around the country that excel in school leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, and parental involvement. The Blue Ribbon designation has become the most prestigious education award in the country—a trademark of excellence and a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policymakers.
What sets Blue Ribbon schools apart?
Among the characteristics that help a school earn Blue Ribbon designation are:
- A clear vision and shared sense of mission
- A challenging, up-to-date curriculum
- Policies and practices which ensure a safe campus conducive to learning
- Family involvement
- A commitment to help all students achieve high standards.
How was Plum Grove nominated?
The nomination process demands a stringent self-assessment. Preparing the Blue Ribbon nomination was a massive effort that took several months of data collection and organization. Every aspect of the school’s operation—from academic performance and curriculum to parent involvement and school spirit—was extensively documented, resulting in multiple binders packed with details about Plum Grove Junior High. A comprehensive application was carefully evaluated by a review team in Washington, D.C., then a site reviewer was assigned to visit the school. The site reviewer made a report and recommendation to the Secretary of Education, who made the final determination.
Why did Plum Grove earn the award?
The Blue Ribbon award recognized Plum Grove Junior High School for its dedication to the development of healthy, well-balanced, productive citizens. “Plum Grove Junior High is a student-centered school, with a focus on student achievement,” the reviewer noted. “This school has a vision and focus to prepare students for high school and the future.”
What did the site reviewer say about Plum Grove?
The reviewer talked with administrators, teachers, students, parents, and members of the office and support staff teams. Among the reviewer’s comments were these:
- The atmosphere in the building is positive and very warm and friendly. As one student said, “This school is different. They care about you here.”
- The school’s broad goals are served through the articulated, integrated curriculum [which] identifies six fundamental functions that learners must develop to be considered educated in today’s world: accessing information, understanding, reasoning, problem-solving, producing, directing self, and working with others.
- Continuous quality improvement is the standard for Plum Grove. Strategic planning is the result of data collected from focus groups in the community. Students, teachers, parents, and administrators examine the data against current practices. Plum Grove’s culture provides numerous opportunities for innovation through staff and student input.
- Activity nights, field trips, and special events enhance positive sustained relationships between teachers and students. Numerous clubs, interscholastic sports, and intramural sports are available to the student body … excellent participation was observed.
- Collaborative teaching and cooperative learning is observable in all areas of the school. Cross-discipline themes are evident … references are made to activities in other classes and how they apply to the current class. Students being in charge of their own learning is observable in most classes.
Plum Grove Junior High School is one of seven District 15 schools to have received the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon designation over the past several years. |
