Only two area schools were labeled as Four Star Schools Tuesday by the Indiana Department of Education. A total of 311 Indiana schools received the designation for the 2012-13 school year. The list was released Tuesday by Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz. Making the Four Star list were Triton Elementary School, Bourbon, and NorthWood High School, Nappanee. Ritz congratulated the schools in the list announcement. “I am honored to name these schools as our Four Star Schools for this year,” said Ritz. “Winning this award required excellent work by teachers, administrators, students and parents throughout the year and on behalf of the entire Indiana Department of Education I send them my sincere congratulations.” In order to be named a Four Star School, a school must be in the top 25th percentile of schools in three ISTEP-based categories, according to a press release from the IDOE. According to the IDOE website, in 2011-12, NorthWood High and Middle schools and Wawasee High School were labeled Four Star Schools. No local schools earned the designation in 2010-11 or 2009-10. A more complete methodology outlining Four Star determination can be found at www.doe.in.gov/accreditation/four-star-schools
