MADISON, Ala. — Students at Rainbow Elementary School have more to celebrate than the end of the school year.
Rainbow Elementary was selected as a 2021 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (BRSE) Lighthouse School. The school made its announcement on its Facebook page.
According to Blue Ribbon Schools, the designation means Rainbow met the required criteria in the nine performance areas required for this national recognition award.
- Student Focus and Support
Goals and objectives flow from the school’s vision and student needs, and reflect high aspirations for all students. The school strives for and achieves excellence and equity. - School Organization and Culture
The school culture exemplifies a caring community of learners that supports continuous learning and improvement flowing from student-focused goals. - Challenging Standard and Curriculum
The curriculum is rationally designed to ensure high levels of achievement of the school’s goals and objectives by all students. These goals and objectives include learning of significant content by all students, and citizenship, interpersonal, and workplace skills. - Active Teaching and Learning
There is clear and compelling evidence that purposeful decision-making governs all aspects of the teaching and learning program. There is a clear link between instructional strategies and student achievement. - Technology and Integration
School utilizes technology in an effective, efficient manner by incorporating the National Education Technology Standards for all students. - Professional Community
The school recognizes the vital role continuous professional development plays in achieving the school’s mission. The school has developed a culture that encourages teachers, administrators, and school staff to work together as members of a professional community, supporting each other in the improvement of student learning. - Leadership and Education Vitality
Dynamic leadership engages the school and community in continuous school improvement focused on student learning and based on vision, data, knowledge of research, effective practice, and continuous monitoring and assessment that have resulted in high levels of student achievement and implementation of comprehensive plans to meet current and future challenges. - School, Family, and Community Partnerships
A pattern of actions taken by the school demonstrates commitment to and recognition of the important role that families, partnerships, and community play in supporting learning. - Indicators of Success
Based on multiple indicators, students have consistently achieved high academic standards. On norm-referenced tests, the students score at least one standard deviation above the mean. Or, the school has provided evidence of significant improvement in student achievement over time (at least one standard deviation above the mean on norm-referenced tests).