North County earns Distinction in Performance Award

North County students and staff have something to brag about.

North County officials didn’t think the school district would earn a Distinction in Performance Award for the 2009/2010 school year but they recently found out they did.

The state award is tied to the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) and based on 14 performance standards. Associate Superintendent Mike Henderson said they re-submitted some data and were able to earn the award. 

On Nov. 1, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education mailed a letter to the district congratulating them for earning the award. “This award recognizes districts for demonstrating consistent improvement or high achievement on the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) performance standards,” the letter reads. 

“We feel very good about it,” Henderson said. 

He is proud of the achievements the district had made and believes it’s due to the hard work of staff and students. “A lot of hard work goes into it,” he said.

The district had come close to earning the award the past couple of years but hadn’t received one since 2005/2006. Henderson said they missed it by two-tenths of a percent in attendance last year.

Henderson hopes they can keep receiving the award. 

Like many schools, North County School District didn’t make the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards. One school in the district — the intermediate — did.

The district did very well in many areas such as MAP, graduation and attendance. 

The district’s attendance rate was 94.4 percent despite being hit hard by a flu season. The graduation rate was 92.1 percent. The year before, it was 83.5 percent.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.