Township school receives recognition as Title I Distinguished School

Maplewood Elementary School has been selected as Indiana’s National Title I Distinguished School for closing the achievement gap for students from low-income families.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz presented the award to Maplewood staff and students at a ceremony at the school Monday, April 6.

Maplewood, like other schools in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, qualifies for federal Title I funding to serve low-income students.

“Maplewood’s structured, nurturing environment – coupled with purposeful planning and strong relationships with students and families – helped the school earn this recognition,” said MSD Wayne Superintendent Jeff Butts. The school’s most recent ISTEP passage rates were 72.1 percent for English/language arts and 74.4 percent for math.

The National Title I Association has asked Maplewood to share its documented methods for closing the achievement gap with other schools around the country.

“We congratulate Principal Moira Clark and her staff, along with Maplewood’s students and families, who are part of the team making this school so successful,” said Dr. Butts. “This national recognition is yet another example of great schools and a great community.”