Bronaugh R-7 School District accredited 'with Distinction'

The Bronaugh R-7 School District has achieved the designation of "Accredited with Distinction" in performance for the fifth year. To qualify for the honor the district must meet all required performance areas on the Missouri Assessment Program test and must earn 13 points on the Annual Performance Report. Bronaugh earned 14 for the fourth consecutive year.

Superintendent Patricia Phillips credits the dedication and work of the teachers, staff, students and parents with this accomplishment. "We have an outstanding staff and their dedication and hard work along with the support from our parents and community make this honor possible.

The students strive to do their best to show their learning and the school is working." Phillips said. "Our community, parents, students and staff should be extremely proud of the continuing tradition of high expectations, dedication and hard work put forth through our schools."

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will honor Bronaugh Schools and other districts receiving the award at a banquet and ceremony on March 19, at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

Bronaugh, with a 2008 enrollment of 224, has an Annual Report Card showing how the district has excelled in the following areas in addition to the performance areas recognized above:

* Accredited through the Missouri School Improvement Program with a full waiver for four consecutive years.

* A student/teacher ratio of 1:14, below the state average 1:18.

* Average teacher years of experience of 15.0 years , which exceeds the state average of 12.4 years.

* One hundred percent of teachers have a regular certificate, whereas the state average is 97 percent.

* A total of 97.7 percent of classes are taught by highly qualified teachers; compared with the state average pf 96 percent.

* An attendance rate of 97 percent; also above the state average of 94 percent

* Zero reportable discipline incidents

* A dropout rate of 1.4 percent -- below the state average of 4.2 percent.

* A 100-percent graduation rate.

The Bronaugh School District accomplishes this with:

* Current expenditures per student: $9,596 (State: $9,338)

* Teacher salaries: $34,129 (State: $45,027)

* Administrator Salaries: $57,398 (State: $80,208)

* A free and reduced lunch rate of 62.8 percent, higher than the state average of 42.1 percent.

The Bronaugh R-7 tax rate $3.62.