Beating the odds overall statewide award for wonder jr.

Wonder Jr. High, West Memphis– Wonder Jr. is “Beating the Odds” when it comes to growth, especially on the ACT Aspire.

“We are killing it,” exclaimed Dr. Palmer Quarrels, principal, after Superintendent Richard Atwill informed her of the good news.

On the last day of November, the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas awarded Wonder Jr. three additional awards in their annual Beating the Odds Report. According to the OEP, Wonder Junior received High Overall Growth for the state, High Math Growth for the Northeast Region, and High ELA Growth for the Northeast Region. 

The OEP says, “Awards are based on the 2022 content growth score calculated by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. These growth scores reflect how much students at the school improved from 2021 compared to how much they were expected to grow considering prior achievement.”

In Mid-November, the OEP released their Middle School Level Report and awarded Wonder Jr. High Overall Growth and High ELA Growth both for the Northeast Region.

Wonder Jr. instructional leader Chiquita Riley is thankful for the hard work and teamwork it took to get the honors. She said, “It’s been a long journey, but it’s paying off, and I just have to thank God for it all. The teachers work hard, no matter what obstacle we face. We rock!” 

For more reaction from teachers, a few students, and school leaders, click on the video.