School briefs: Two North St. Paul elementary schools named 2014 Celebration schools

Richardson and Weaver elementary schools, both a part of the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District, were among 22 schools designated this month as "celebration" schools by the state Department of Education.

The celebration schools represent the cream of a second tier of state schools that receive federal poverty aid.

Each year, those schools receiving the funding are rated on how well they address the achievement gap, graduation rates, academic growth and proficiency. The top 15 percent of schools are designated as "reward" schools, followed by another 25 percent that are named "celebration eligible."

The celebration-eligible schools then are invited to apply for celebration status by documenting their efforts to boost student achievement. This year, 217 schools were classified as celebration eligible, and of those, 143 applied for the celebration designation, with 22 schools then selected for the honor.

"Minnesota schools should be proud of the work going on in our schools," state Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said in a statement. "I look forward to continue learning about [the celebration schools'] successful efforts to ensure all students succeed — and share that work with other schools across the state."

Paul Brashear, assessment coordinator for the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale district, credited the local success to strong leadership and a clearly defined sense of purpose.

District Superintendent Patty Phillips said: "We are honored to receive this recognition, which celebrates the accomplishments of the staff and students of Richardson and Weaver elementary schools. We're proud they have been named 2014 celebration schools and are being recognized for their focus on maximizing the achievement of every student."

At Richardson, 61 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, compared with 38 percent at schools statewide. In 2014, 62 percent of Richardson students tested proficient in math and 45 percent in reading, both down slightly from the previous year.

At Weaver, 55 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. There, 77 percent of students were proficient in math, compared with 79 percent in 2013, and 59 percent tested proficient in reading, up from 55 percent in 2013.

Earlier this fall, the school district learned that another one of its schools, Carver Elementary in Maplewood, won a designation as a reward school.

Elsewhere, Birch Lake Elementary in the White Bear Lake Area Schools and O.H. Anderson Elementary in the Mahtomedi Public Schools were named reward schools, as well.

The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale district also learned recently that its community education department captured a regional award for its community gardens project.

Cheryl Gysbers, the district's adult enrichment coordinator, leads a project that includes three community gardens and a greenhouse, and is designed to support student learning and let community members grow their own food.

The state Department of Agriculture uses one of the gardens as a test site to determine if any new and emerging pests have found their way into the state.

Each of the gardens also shares a portion of its harvest with local food shelves, the district said in a news release.