R-5 accredited with distinction

Nevada R-5 School District Superintendent Dr. David Stephens accepts recognition of the district's Distinction in Performance during a banquet held Monday, March 8 at Missouri Southern State University. Pictured from left to right: Peter Herschend, vice president of the Missouri State Board of Education; Dr. David Stephens; Sybl Slaughter, member of the Missouri State Board of Education and Stan Johnson, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. -- submitted photo

Once again the Nevada R-5 School District has been designated as Accredited with Distinction in Performance by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Dr. David Stephens, R-5 superintendent accepted the award on behalf of the R-5 district at the regional Distinction in Performance banquet hosted by the Regional Professional Development Center and held at Missouri State Southern University on Monday, March 8.

This is the seventh year that the Nevada R-5 district has received this honor. In order for a school or district to be designated as Accredited with Distinction in Performance, it must meet 13 of the following 14 standards established by the State Board of Education.

* ACT scores

* Advanced coursework

* Career education coursework

* College placement

* Career education placement

* Graduation rate

* Attendance rate

* Map scores -- grades 3-5, math

* Map scores -- grades 3-5, communication arts

* Map scores -- grades 6-8. math

* Map scores -- grades 6-8. communication arts

* End of Course tests -- math (algebra I)

* End of Course tests -- communication arts (English II)

* Subgroup achievement

The Nevada R-5 district met all 14 of the standards above and "those state standards are some of the toughest in the country," according to Dr. Stephens. Our programs go beyond the state requirements he said. Stephens also said that "constant improvement" in those programs is a key factor in the district's doing so well.