By URIAH KISER
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Potomac Middle School and its panthers has done something it has never done before: achieve a ranking of School of Excellence in Prince William County.
The six-year-old school is home to 1,100 students and sits on Panther Pride Drive in Woodbridge, where two other schools – Potomac High and Mary Williams Elementary schools – all share the panther mascot.
But it is the students and staff at Potomac Middle who are celebrating a scholastic achievement of excellence, one they want to share with parents and the community.
“I can’t take credit because I wasn’t here last year, but based on last year’s data I truly attribute the success of past leadership of past teachers, students, and success of those who were here last year. My goal is to keep it going,” said school Principal Alfie Turner, who made the transition from elementary to middle school principal in June.
Every school in Prince William County is measured in the “School of Excellence” program sponsored by the county School Board. Criteria such as full school accreditation, parent and student satisfaction, and scholastic improvements are all measured on a scale of 100 points. Those who achieve 90 or above achieve School of Excellence.
This past year, students at Potomac Middle improved significantly in reading and language arts. It’s an achievement that especially been celebrated by the men and women who came to open this school in Sept. 2006.
“The emotion on the faces of the staff members, especially the inaugural staff – the group that’s been here from the time the school opened – we had teachers stepping out and saying ‘praise the lord,’ and you can see that sense of pride wanting to continue,” said Turner.
Something else Turner hopes will continue: parents who want to remain involved in their child’s education. Coming from an elementary school where more parents “are a little more connected” to their parent-teacher associations, Turner said parents are always welcome to sit in classrooms here, and many have also taken an active roll in volunteering and recognizing the hard work of teachers each month.
A total of 40 elementary and middle schools in Prince William County achieved the School of Excellence rating for the 2012-13 school year. Individual celebrations to honor these achievements at each respective school began last month.
