April 10, 2003

MacArthur Elementary Recognized as 'School on the Rise'

(Santa Fe, NM)-The New Mexico State Board of Education (SBE) on Wednesday, April 9, recognized MacArthur Elementary in Las Cruces as a "School on the Rise" in recognition of its efforts to raise the level of learning for students. The school is one of 10 to be recognized this year for being removed from school improvement in 2002.

"On behalf of the State Board and Department of Education, I recognize the school's educators, school administrators and students for their spirit of responsibility, cooperation and sheer effort," said John A. Darden, SBE member from Las Cruces.

"The educators at MacArthur Elementary have taken steps to ensure that the data they provide accurately reflect their schools' progress and student growth and they have implemented teaching strategies tied directly to student needs. They have improved their ratings for two years despite being among those schools facing the greatest needs and opportunities for improvement in our state.

"Their journey to improve school and student performance is notable both in their efforts and the results achieved," he said.

Accepting the award on behalf of the school was its principal, Terry Stuart.

The 10 schools recognized in 2003 as "Schools on the Rise" are: Sunland Park Elementary, Gadsden; Roosevelt Elementary and Gallup Middle, Gallup; MacArthur Elementary, Las Cruces; Tomé Elementary, Los Lunas; César Chavez Elementary and R. M. Sweeney Elementary, Santa Fe; Rio Costilla Elementary, Questa; East Grand Plains Elementary, Roswell; and Zuni High, Zuni.