Walter R. Sundling Junior High School
 A U.S. Department of Education
Blue Ribbon School
1994-1996
Walter R. Sundling Junior High School was the first school in Community Consolidated School District 15 to earn the prestigious Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education.
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 Walter R. Sundling 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 Walter R. Sundling 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 Walter R. Sundling earn the award?
One reason cited was the school’s strong commitment to its “Partners in Learning” philosophy, which encourages every student, parent, staff member, and community resident to become involved in the education of Sundling’s students. “[The school] is a happy, involved, and successful community of learners, all sharing the ‘Partners in Learning,’ mission,” the site reviewer said. Another reason is the school’s strong academic focus, as demonstrated by the excellent performance of Sundling students on standardized assessments. Sundling students consistently score above state and district averages.
What did the site reviewer say about Sundling?
The reviewer talked with teachers, students, parents, and members of the office and support staff teams. The observations documented were very complimentary of Sundling’s administration, staff members, students, and parents. Among the comments were these:
- The climate here is one of trust, support, and family … An atmosphere has been created for all to be successful.
- The Building Leadership Team is the decision-making body. Everyone has input and the result is a shared vision.
- The environment at Sundling is impressive … a warm, bright, and clean campus. Students and staff take pride in their school. Everyone cares, everyone supports, and everyone works hard.
- Every staff member, led by Dr. Ross, cares deeply about each child. The whole atmosphere is that of acceptance. Everyone is valued and everyone is included. The school is outstanding in meeting the goals it established and in addressing the needs of all of its students.
- Students are active and eager to learn. They support each other and care about the feelings of others. They enjoy school and their enthusiasm shows.
In addition to being named a “National School of Excellence,” Walter R. Sundling Junior High also received Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for effective use of technology.
Walter R. Sundling 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. |
