Festus Elementary School has been named a Gold Star School.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education awards the designation to high-achieving schools based on a variety of criteria, including students’ performances on standardized tests.
Festus Elementary was one of eight Missouri schools to earn the award this year, and the only one in Jefferson County to win it.
The Festus Board of Education honored Festus Elementary principal Darin Siefert and some of his staff at its meeting last night (May 21).
“A tremendous honor,” Festus Superintendent Link Luttrell said. “It is a wonderful confirmation of the work the elementary has focused upon. I’m happy for everyone involved with the elementary: staff, students, parents – the entire school community.”
DESE established the Gold Star Schools program in 1991 to “identify schools that are performing at a high level academically or making exceptional progress,” according to DESE’s website.
Festus Elementary earned the designation in 1999, but this was the first time the school earned the designation since DESE instituted new requirements, Luttrell said.
Gold Star Schools are eligible for recognition in the national Blue Ribbon Schools program which will be announced in the fall.