Pine-Richland Middle School Recognized in Schools to Watch

For the sixth time since 2006-2007, Pine-Richland Middle School has been redesignated in the Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools: Schools to Watch program. 

The Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools: Schools to Watch Program recognizes schools achieving academic excellence based on 37 factors established by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform and aims to assist Pennsylvania middle-grade schools in building capacity.

"Our recognition as a School to Watch is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our entire school community,” said Dr. David Kristofic, principal.

The designation is valid for three years, at which time a school must re-apply for redesignation. Pine-Richland Middle School has maintained its designation for 18 years. 

“These schools demonstrate that high-performing middle grades schools are places that focus on academic growth and achievement,” said Bruce Vosburgh, director of Pennsylvania Schools to Watch. “They are also places that recognize the importance of meeting the needs of all of their students and ensure that every child has access to a challenging, high-quality education.”

As part of the redesignation application process, Pine-Richland Middle School was required to demonstrate progress on specific goals and identify areas for continuous improvement. Building goals focus on academic excellence, social equity, developmental responsiveness and organizational structure and processes. Schools to Watch evaluators also look at a school’s leadership, evaluate the cohesiveness of teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and consider a school’s commitment to assessment and continuous improvement. 

A state team visited the school to observe classrooms, interview administrators, teachers, students and parents, and evaluate achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons and student work.

“I want to sincerely thank our students, parents, teachers, support staff, central administration and school board for supporting middle-level learning,” said Dr. Kristofic. “Our collective mindset to grow and improve has been instrumental in this recognition. The recognition belongs to all of us."

“This achievement reflects our teachers' dedication to continuous improvement and commitment to student success,” echoed Nicole Berezo, assistant principal. “Pine-Richland Middle School is a great place to learn and grow!”

Pine-Richland Middle School will be formally recognized at the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education’s state conference in February in Pittsburgh and will be recognized nationally with all other Schools to Watch designees at the National Forum’s National Schools to Watch Conference in June in Washington, D.C.

Since its inception in 2006, the Schools to Watch program has recognized 62 schools throughout Pennsylvania. Pine-Richland Middle School is one of 14 schools this year to be designated or redesignated in Pennsylvania and one of only two schools in Pennsylvania to be redesignated six times.