ORHS hopes to win top reform prize in Nashville on Oct. 28

Leaders, teachers, parents, and students of Oak Ridge High School, selected as one of the best three public high schools in Tennessee for growth in student achievement, will be in Nashville on Oct. 28, when they hope to win top honors at the SCORE Prize event.

The SCORE Prize, sponsored by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, or SCORE, is the hallmark award for Tennessee public schools and districts that have made the greatest gains in student achievement. The prize will be awarded during an event that begins at 6 p.m., Oct. 28, at Laura Turner Concert Hall, Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.

SCORE is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan education advocacy and research institution that works collaboratively to support Tennessee’s work to prepare students for college and the workforce and was founded by Bill Frist, former U.S. Senate majority leader.

Oak Ridge High School will be represented by Superintendent Bruce Borchers, Assistant Superintendent Christopher Marczak, Principal David Bryant, vice principals Amber Godbee and Christopher Scott, and Graduation Coach Beth Estep. Supporters from the community are encouraged to attend the free event to help cheer on Oak Ridge High School.

“We are so proud to have been selected as a finalist for this prize,” Bryant said. “It is a good feeling to know that the hard work of our teachers is recognized. We would be thrilled to have as many community members as possible join us in Nashville on the 28th to help us celebrate this honor.”

Oak Ridge High School was selected as one of three finalists for the 2013 SCORE Prize based on data that included growth from the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System and performance on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program. College-readiness data, such as ACT and graduation rates, were also considered.

Then, a team compiled by SCORE visited the school to conduct interviews and observe first-hand how Oak Ridge High School has been improving academic achievement by students.

“One of the most important components of the SCORE Prize is the responsibility to share the stories of success we find,” said SCORE President and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Woodson. “We want others involved in education to see examples of what is working and to be inspired by stories from Oak Ridge High School.”

To help tell the story of Oak Ridge High School, a video crew from Nashville recently visited the school to interview school leaders, teachers, parents, and students for a video that will be shown during the SCORE Prize event.

The 2013 SCORE Prize event, hosted by Frist, will include remarks from Gov. Bill Haslam plus a special performance by country music artist Jo Dee Messina. Tickets should be reserved at www.tnscore.org/scoreprize.