Mehlville board highlights student awards, benchmark gains and intervention successes
Summary
At the Dec. 18 meeting Mehlville R‑IX recognized student council activities, NEA student winners and reported benchmark growth at middle schools after shifting to i‑Ready and implementing Tier 2/3 interventions; Bernard Middle reported winter benchmark growth to 47% at or above early/mid grade level.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hogg and school leaders used the Dec. 18 meeting to spotlight student and staff achievements across the Mehlville R‑IX district. Hogg noted a high‑school student awarded a QuestBridge scholarship to Washington University that he said is "valued at more than $325,000." Student advisors from Oakville and Mehlville high schools summarized finals‑week activities, athletics, and community service projects.
Bernard Middle School leaders presented school performance data, reporting 597 enrolled students, 27% qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 8% English‑learners and 18.43% of students with individualized education programs. After adopting i‑Ready for diagnostics, staff reported winter benchmark growth to 47% of students performing at or above early/mid grade level and a nearly 7 percentage‑point reduction in students two or more grade levels below.
Berkeley Middle School principals described similar gains after switching math benchmarking to i‑Ready (mid/above grade level rising from 7% to nearly 23% over a year) and highlighted teacher coaching through district partnerships. School leaders credited Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions and increased teacher collaboration for the improvements.
The board recognized NEA student awards at Bernard and Berkeley and acknowledged staff honors, including an assistant principal earning a doctorate in educational leadership. Board members and administrators emphasized community support and staff effort as central factors in student progress.
