Athens Reporter

West Jackson Middle School has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse School, becoming the fourth institution within the Jackson County School System to receive this honor. The announcement was made on Thursday, and West Jackson Middle joins East Jackson Elementary School, Maysville Elementary School, and East Jackson High School in achieving this status.

The Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Distinction is awarded following an extensive assessment that evaluates various aspects of a school's performance. These categories include school culture and climate, challenging curriculum, active teaching and learning, technology integration, professional community, leadership and education vitality, school-family-community partnerships, and indicators of success.

The certification for West Jackson Middle School will remain valid for five years. During this period, the school will have opportunities to collaborate with other schools at local, regional, and national levels. Additionally, it will provide mentoring and networking support to schools seeking guidance in their improvement initiatives.