Tefft Middle School lauded for excellence in education
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More than 700 schools across the state can claim they are members of the Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University 2011 Illinois Honor Roll.
But Tefft Middle School in Streamwood stands alone in one area: it was the only middle school in the state to receive awards for making strides toward closing the achievement gap and sustaining high academic standards.
The Elgin Area District U-46 school received the Spotlight Award, which is given to schools where more than 50 percent of the students are designated low income. At Tefft, it’s 64 percent. The school also must make adequately yearly progress for three years straight.
In 2011, that meant 85 percent of students must have met or exceeded standards on state tests for reading and math. At Tefft, 92 percent of students attained that benchmark.
Furthermore, the school earned Academic Excellence accolades for achieving a very high academic performance over the last three years. The criteria for Academic Excellence was at least 90 percent of the students meeting or exceeding state standards in both reading and mathematics for at least three consecutive years,
Tefft Principal Lavonne Smiley said the awards reflect the dedication of the staff, students and parents.
“We didn’t know this was coming,” Smiley said. “We knew that we have high performing students, but this is great for the community, great for parents and students and it’s affirming for the teachers who put in a lot of hard work. It is a great tribute to the teachers.”
Smiley said the school has developed a common language of instruction that ensures everyone — principals, teachers, students and parents — knows the expectations.
“It has been a collective effort that has helped us grow as a school,” Smiley said. “Everyone is on the same page so that we’re not all operating in 20 different directions.”
Students also track their test scores and set goals, Smiley said.
“Students are really data-driven,” Smiley said. “They know how AYP is calculated and that every subgroup has to make it. When they take a test, there is a purpose.”
There were five Elgin Area District U-46 elementary schools that received the Academic Excellence Award, including: Bartlett, Centennial, Hawk Hollow, Prairieview, all in Bartlett, and Wayne Elementary School.
