Port Clinton Middle School has once again named a “School to Watch” by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). The designation qualifies Port Clinton Middle School as a National Forum School to Watch.  Of the three Ohio schools designated in 2015, only Port Clinton Middle School applied for and earned the designation for 2019.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, Schools to Watch is an initiative launched by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform in 1999. Through the Schools to Watch initiative, the National Forum identifies schools across the United States that are well on their way to meeting the Forum’s four criteria for high-performing, middle level schools.

The four criteria are academic excellence; developmental responsiveness; social equity; and organizational structures and processes. Port Clinton

“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to be re-designated. We were so proud to share with the team from the Ohio Department of Education the growth and enhancements that we have implemented since their last visit,” said Port Clinton Middle School Principal Carrie Sanchez.

Patrick Adkins Superintendent of Schools stated, “We are very pleased our middle school has once again been recognized as one of the leading middle schools in Ohio by being re-designated as an ‘Ohio School to Watch.’ This is a testament to the hard work of our entire staff, students and community.”

Only six schools in Ohio made application for this designation.  Port Clinton Middle School was selected for a site visit on March 15, with a team from Ohio Department of Education visiting classrooms and observing a typical day at Port Clinton Middle School.

Comments from the team about the visit included: “Rigorous teaching and learning creates an environment in which students are engaged, excited, challenged, thinking critically and many opportunities. Teachers work to adapt and modify curriculum and programs to better meet the learning needs of students. The school provides convincing and strong evidence that it has a well-developed plan to guide its future work.”

Sanchez noted that this designation is not merely representative of test scores. All of PCMS students demonstrate growth and achievement on a regular basis as measured in state assessments. This honor reinforces Port Clinton Middle School teachers care for the whole child and partner with families and the community.

Port Clinton Middle School educates 435 students in grades 6, 7 and 8. “Our teachers and staff are dedicated to working with every student as an individual and every student has the opportunity to grow and excel during their time with us,” said Sanchez.  “Our expectations are very high. Our work is rigorous. Our goals for our students exceed merely classroom work. Our goals for our students are holistic in order to best prepare them for the challenging world that is waiting for them.”