Southwest Local Schools Receive 2018 Momentum Award

Southwest Schools is one of two school districts nationwide to receive the honor three years in a row.

(Hamilton County, Oh.) - Southwest Local School District recently was honored as one of only four school districts in Hamilton County to be named a “2018 Momentum Award” recipient by the Ohio Department of Education. In addition, SLSD is one of only two school districts in the country to earn the award three consecutive years. The district is one of only 70 school districts in the state to earn the award for 2018, out of 610 total districts.

“This recognition by the State is evidence of the quality education provided throughout the Southwest Local School District,” says Superintendent John C. Hamstra. “Our teachers, administration and support staff continue to devote themselves to living out our mission of academic and social growth for all students every day, and this award, for the third year in a row, speaks to the work getting done each day.”

In addition to the honors merited by the district, Miamitown Elementary School also received the 2018 Momentum Award in recognition of their student growth. Miamitown Elementary was one of nine schools in Hamilton County to receive the award. Miamitown also earned the “High Progress School of Honor” for 2018, joining just 67 schools state-wide!

“Miamitown is a special place where staff celebrate the day to day victories that may seem small at the time but snowball into gigantic victories. A place where building student relationships is priority number one. I am extremely proud to work with such a great staff and students!” states Miamitown Principal Dave Kelly.

The Ohio Department of Education’s annual honors recognizes school districts and individual schools for exceeding expectations in student growth on state assessments. Schools must earn straight A’s on all Value-Added measures of the report card. The school or district must have at least two Value-Added subgroups of students, which includes gifted, lowest 20% in achievement, and students with disabilities.

For more highlights from throughout SLSD for the 2017-18 academic year, click the following link for the district’s annual Quality Profile which is available online at: https://www.southwestschools.org/media/curriculum/2017-18%20Quality%20Profile.pdf  The profile provides a comprehensive look at the academic and social growth taking place in our schools on an annual basis. For more on the Momentum Awards, visit the ODE website at: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/District-and-School-Continuous-Improvement/Awards-and-Recognition