As it does every fall, the Ohio Department of Education released its school district report cards last week. I am pleased to share that Mariemont City Schools was one of just 31 districts statewide (and one of only five locally) to earn an overall grade of ‘A’ on the 2019 report.  This overall rating places the district in the top five percent of all schools statewide.  Additionally, our performance index score of 107.4 on the state tests is within the top two percent in the state.

Once again, the students and staff of Mariemont City Schools are proving themselves as the best of the best across the state of Ohio. And while we are all proud of these scores, the state report card is only part of our story. There is so much more that defines the #MariemontExperience and the accomplishments of our wonderful school district.

We want our students to learn and grow in both traditional and innovative ways. We want them to become global learners, strong communicators, responsible risk-takers and deeply committed members of our community and world – and we work hard every day to make this a reality.

This is why I am so proud of our award-winning Warriors BEyond initiative that provides students the opportunity for experiential learning outside the traditional classroom setting. Each and every student in our district has these experiences to be driven by their passions and interests. Because of Warriors BEyond, our students are growing exponentially in interest exploration and discovering new possibilities every day.

Mariemont City Schools also places a high focus on student wellbeing and positive mental health. Each school building has several programs in place to accompany the growing rates of anxiety and depression amongst adolescents in today’s society. From daily mindfulness and calming sessions to our Sources of Strength peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, our students are immersed with positive reinforcements and reminded daily of their worth.

These mental health initiatives are not listed on the state report card, yet they are truly some of the most important endeavors in our district. As both the superintendent and a parent, I cannot express enough my relief knowing that our students are receiving this support and my gratitude to our counselors and staff members who are on the frontlines with these programs every day.

Also not reflected in the state report card is the tremendous arts programming at Mariemont City Schools, including band, choir, orchestra and visual arts classes to develop student creativity. Our competitive athletics teams have produced numerous state championships over the years and teach students the value of teamwork and healthy competition. Additionally, innovative instruction and meaningful technology are integrated into our curriculum in all of our classrooms to open a world of learning possibilities that never before existed to ensure our students are ready for tomorrow.

Yes, the state report card is important as we look at district success. And yes, I am thrilled with the work our students and staff are demonstrating to be continually recognized as a top-performing district in the state. But I am also thrilled with so much more. At Mariemont City Schools our focus is on the complete #MariemontExperience, and this is something for which we all should be proud!