Eureka Middle School is making significant progress in closing the academic achievement gap.

Eureka Middle School has been nominated by state school Superintendent Denise Juneau for a National Blue Ribbon Schools Award in the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools category. 

This is the school’s first Blue Ribbon nomination, according to Eureka Middle School Principal Trevor Utter. 

Eureka Middle School houses grades fifth through eighth with an enrollment of approximately 200 students. News of the nomination reached Utter last week. 

“We’re very excited,” Utter said. 

To be nominated, the middle school had to be in the top 15 percent of all Montana schools demonstrating progress in closing the achievement gap in reading and math. 

Additionally, each student group testing in the two subjects for the 2012-13 school year was in the top 40 percent of all schools in the state. Student groups are low-income students, students with disabilities and racial groups, for example.

The school also met state accreditation for two consecutive years.

Utter, in his ninth year as Eureka Middle School principal, gave kudos to staffers throughout the district — from administrators to teachers — for the academic progress made at the middle school.

“Eureka is nominated for the award, but it’s because of our elementary school teachers, middle school teachers and high school teachers,” Utter said. 

Consistency between grade levels and schools is key to closing the gap in academic achievement.

“One of the best things you can do for a kid in school and at home is consistency. We have a very consistent teaching staff,” Utter said. “We are on one campus and we have three separate buildings. I think the key is that we have a very united district.”

He said other components to making progress are communication and building relationships with students.

“We have such great contact with parents and parents are active in their child’s education,” Utter said.

Nominated schools now enter a rigorous application process with the U.S. Department of Education. 

“These communities should be very proud of the hard work of their teachers, students, school leaders and parents,” Juneau said. “Montana’s Blue Ribbon schools are national models for how to achieve success and are a reflection of our statewide commitment to providing every child with a quality public education.”

Hellgate Elementary was also nominated in the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools category.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program identifies top school leadership and teaching practices in order to set a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement.

Blue Ribbon Schools represent not just public schools but also charter, magnet, Title I, parochial and independent schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

National Blue Ribbon School Awards will be announced in September.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.