Three District 197 Schools Win National Awards

Pilot Knob Elementary was one of only three schools in Minnesota to receive Magnet Schools of America's annual excellence award, which comes with a $2,500 cash prize.

Two other District 197 schools—Moreland Arts and Health Sciences and Heritage E-STEM—were also honored by Magnet Schools of America with their distinction award. Nine Minnesota schools received the award.

District 197 has more about the selection criteria for the awards:

Schools are awarded for their student achievement, innovative and engaging instruction and curriculum, community engagement, professional development, and commitment to diversity. To receive a merit award MSA member schools must submit a detailed application that is scored by a panel of educators. There are two categories of merit awards: Magnet Schools of Excellence, the top award given to a group of select magnet schools, and Magnet Schools of Distinction, the second highest award of recognition.

“We are extremely proud of the staff, students and site leaders of Pilot Knob, Moreland and Heritage for making these schools outstanding learning environments,” said Marilynn Smith, magnet coordinator for District 197. “Our schools have made it a priority to personalize learning and better prepare students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.”

Pilot Knob is one of three schools in Minnesota to receive the School of Excellence award, while Heritage and Moreland were among nine schools from Minnesota chosen to be Schools of Distinction. Heritage was also named a Magnet School of Distinction in 2012. School District 197’s fourth magnet school, Garlough Environmental Magnet School, was named a Magnet School of Excellence in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School Principal Tom Benson listens to students’ presentations about their science projects during the school’s 2013 STEM Fair. Magnet Schools of America named Pilot Knob a Magnet School of Excellence — the top merit award given by the national education association.

Representatives from the schools will receive their merit award plaques during an awards ceremony at the 31st National Conference on Magnet Schools in Tulsa, O.K., May 5-8, 2013.

To learn more about Magnet Schools of America’s merit awards program, visit www.magnet.edu.