MADISON (WDPI) -- “Let’s start the 2011-12 school year celebrating what’s right in education,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers as he announced the names of 116 schools receiving recognition for their success in educating students from low-income families.

The 2011-12 Wisconsin School of Recognition awards go to schools that have some of the highest poverty rates in the state based on free and reduced-price school lunch data. Student achievement on the 2010-11 state reading and mathematics examinations was above average for schools from similarly sized districts, schools, grade configurations, and poverty levels. Each school also met adequate yearly progress for the past two years. Additionally, the schools either are Title I eligible or receive Title I funding to provide services to high numbers or high percentages of economically disadvantaged children.
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“In these schools, teachers, parents, administrators, other school staff members, and the community work together to create an educational environment that supports children’s learning,” Evers said. “This award recognizes their efforts and sets a tone for the 2011-12 school year: celebrate success, strive for ever-higher achievement, and always focus on children’s learning.”

Schools meeting all four criteria will receive a plaque at an Oct. 12 awards ceremony at the State Capitol and $5,000 for use by the school. During the awards ceremony, 10 schools will receive flags for earning the Wisconsin School of Recognition award for five consecutive years. Another 14 schools have received the award for more than five years — three for all nine years of the program. This year’s 116 Wisconsin School of Recognition Award recipients include 80 elementary schools, 20 middle or junior high schools, and 16 high schools.  Four schools were recognized in Janesville including TAGOS Leadership Academy.

“Our schools continually strive to overcome the link between poverty and educational challenge. They establish rigorous programs of academic instruction that support individual student needs,” Evers said. “The staff and administration of the 2011-12 Wisconsin Schools of Recognition are to be commended.”