• Oct. 4, 2018

    Boyce Middle School

    Boyce earns Distinguished School designation

    Pennsylvania Department of Education Boyce Middle School is one of 158 schools to be recognized as a Title I Distinguished School in the 2018-2019 school year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Federal Programs. 

    “It is an honor to be recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as one of the top Title 1 schools in the state,” Dan O’Rourke, Boyce Middle School principal, said. “Most encouraging is that we are never satisfied with the status quo. Although we achieve high results, our staff constantly strives, collaborates and researches to provide an even better experience for our students.”

    Each year, the Division of Federal Programs honors the top performing Title I schools in Pennsylvania. There are two designations: Reward for High Achievement and Reward for High Progress. High Achievement recognizes the highest five percent of Title I schools based on aggregate math and reading PSSA or Keystone scores that also met all Annual Measurable Objectives. High Progress recognizes the highest five percent of Title I schools based on a composite of the math and English Language Arts Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS) indices for the schools. Schools also met participation and graduation/attendance AMOs.

    “We have selected 158 Title I schools to be named Distinguished Schools based on that criterion,” Susan McCrone, chief of the Division of Federal Programs, said. “I congratulate you and your staff on the success you are experiencing within your school.”

    Boyce Middle School will be honored as a 2018-19 Distinguished Title I School during the 2019 Title I Improving Schools’ Performance Conference Jan. 13-16, 2019, at the Sheraton Station Square hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

    “Awards such as the Title I Distinguished School award help to solidify the outstanding work that happens every day at Boyce Middle School,” Mr. O’Rourke said. “This award is a testament to the hard-working students and a talented teaching staff we have here at Boyce.”

    Title I schools receive supplemental federal funding to bridge the gap between economically disadvantaged students, as determined by free and reduced lunch, and other students.