Turlock Junior High Honored as Model School

Turlock Junior High School has been selected as one of California’s 2014 Schools to Watch – Taking Center Stage model middle schools.

The honor, bestowed by the California Middle Grades Alliance and the California’s Schools to Watch – Taking Center Stage program, uses a competitive, rigorous review process to identify high performing, high impact middle schools so that all middle schools may have models of real-world success.

“Turlock Junior High School is a model of what an outstanding middle school can be,” said Irvin Howard, President of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. “School leaders from across the state will now turn to Turlock Junior High School for guidance on improving their programs to better serve their students.”

Schools are selected because they meet the unique challenges of their student populations and share a strong, ongoing record of student achievement.

TJHS students, staff, parents, district leaders, school board members and community members will celebrate the selection at 1 p.m. March 3 in the school cafeteria.

“We are thrilled to have received this recognition,” said TJHS Principal Dave Kline. “Our staff and students have worked very hard in an exciting and challenging junior high school program to demonstrate strong student achievement. This ceremony is an affirmation of the fine work so many have done in the school, district and larger community.”

The celebration assembly will feature an address to the student body on their school’s selection as a model and the presentation of a banner.

TJHS is one of just of 59 model schools that have been identified statewide since 2003. TJHS is the only junior high or middle school in Stanislaus, Merced or San Joaquin Counties that has earned this recognition.