At Liberty-Benton Local Schools, our students are more than just a number, ranking or grade. Sure, we are pleased with the recent grade we received on the state report card – B. We were one of only three districts in the county that received this high of a grade. We work hard every day to provide the best experiences for our students, but we could still be – and plan on! – doing more to help our Eagles continue to soar.The state report card data is a useful tool, but it is just one measure of the work we’re doing in our schools. It does not capture the fact that our district was recently named the #1 district for athletes, the #1 place to teach and the #1 safest school in Hancock County by Niche.com. There is no reference to the six Monarch butterflies our Biology and Environmental Science classes have raised and the two that were recently released to make the journey to Mexico or the incredible growth we’re seeing in our instrumental and vocal music program. In the past year, our band has more than doubled in size and our choir is up 28 students to 172 singers. If we’re going to talk numbers, it is numbers like these that make our district so special.
There truly is something for everyone at Liberty-Benton.
You see, at Liberty-Benton Local Schools, we care about all of our students and support them in reaching their fullest potential. Not only do we want them to achieve in the classroom, but to grow and gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the future. So that is where we send the majority of our money – to the classroom. Sixty-seven percent of our district budget is sent to the classroom, where mission-critical work happens every day. In addition, our classroom spending per pupil is the lowest in the area, meaning we make the most with the money we have. We know that student performance is directly affected by the resources and services that are readily available, so we make that a top priority.
So, as we review our results on the state report card – and all data is important so we will definitely take time to process and apply key takeaways – it is important to keep in mind that the idea of providing an excellent educational experience for our children is at the center of every decision we make.
I am proud of everything we have accomplished in our district and am grateful for the support of our parents and community. I look forward to this year’s achievements and the story our students will be able to tell after another successful year at Liberty-Benton!
Liberty-Benton Local Schools