Press Releases
- U.S. Department of Education Names Hillsboro Junior High a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School
- Hillsboro Elementary and Intermediate Schools Named Choose Love Certified Schools
- Hillsboro Junior High School Named Top Performing School in Texas
- Hillsboro High School's FFA Homesite Evaluation Team Supported by Local Builder for State Competition
U.S. Department of Education Names Hillsboro Junior High a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School
U.S. Department of Education Names Hillsboro Junior High School a National Blue Ribbon School
HILLSBORO, TX- U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 356 schools today as the 2024 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools. Hillsboro Junior High School (HJHS) is one of 31 schools selected from Texas. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps.
“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”
National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.
“At HJHS, we believe the bedrock of a successful school campus is all about relationships. We pride ourselves on loving our students. With passionate teachers dedicated to their subject areas and students eager to learn and grow, success becomes an expectation,” said Patrick Harvell, Principal of Hillsboro Junior High School. “Being awarded a National Blue Ribbon Award fills us all with great pride and validates what we have been working for the last few years and what we will continue to strive for in the future. I am so proud of the staff and students at HJHS.”
“A National Blue Ribbon Award signifies a superior level of academic success and growth. Hillsboro Junior High School’s students and staff have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to raising the bar and cultivating ongoing student success,” said Darrell G. Brown, Ph.D., Superintendent of Hillsboro ISD. “I am very proud of everyone who helped make this award possible.”
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit the USDE HJHS Award Page here: https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/winning/24tx127pu_hillsboro_junior_high_school.html
Hillsboro Elementary and Intermediate Schools Named Choose Love Certified Schools
For Immediate Release
Hillsboro Schools are Named a Choose Love Certified School
Newtown, CT (September 15, 2024) – A Choose Love Movement, a non-profit providing free life skills programs for educators, announced today Hillsboro Elementary and Hillsboro Intermediate Schools have become Choose Love Certified Schools.
Choose Love programs provide a proactive and preventative approach to mental wellness. Becoming a Choose Love Certified School shows a commitment to the safety, health and wellbeing of the students and staff, and provides a framework of tried and true best practices that foster a safe and compassionate environment.
Scientific research spanning more than three decades indicates that children who participate in social emotional curricula are more likely to become successful and healthy adults. These individuals tend to possess a deeper sense of self, a strong commitment to community, and learned compassion for others, contributing to lower rates of bullying, violent crime and incarceration, substance abuse, and mental illness.
“I’m thrilled that Hillsboro has become among the first in the nation to become Choose Love Certified! Hillsboro has taken a significant step toward nurturing a supportive and compassionate school environment. I look forward to sharing the benefits with parents and the community,” said Scarlett Lewis, Chief Movement Officer of Choose Love.
For more information, please visit www.ChooseLoveMovement.org.
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About The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement (TM)
Jesse Lewis, a six-year-old first grader, was a victim of the Sandy Hook tragedy whose action saved the lives of nine classmates. Jesse left behind a message on a household chalkboard, “Nurturing Healing Love,” that became the inspiration for his mother, Scarlett, to found the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement.
The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a commitment to reach students, educators and individuals, nationally and internationally, and provide them with a simple, yet profound formula for choosing love. Choose Love programs are free and teach essential life skills to children and adults. It has grown organically, one person at a time over the last eleven years, and now reaches 3.5 million children and adults in over 120
countries.
For more information, please visit www.ChooseLoveMovement.org.
Contact:
Jan Wilmot
Director of Marketing & PR
Jan @ jesselewischooselove.org
Hillsboro Junior High School Named Top Performing School in Texas
HILLSBORO, TX- Hillsboro Junior High School (HJHS) made the Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) “Honor Roll” list of top performing schools in Texas. Only 835 campuses across the state were chosen, placing HJHS in the top 12% of schools in Texas. Additionally, Hillsboro Junior High School is the only campus in Hill County to receive the honor.
ERP recognizes top schools in Texas that have outperformed their peers in closing achievement gaps, particularly among higher-poverty and historically disadvantaged student populations. It is the only school recognition program based solely on student achievement data.
“I am so proud of my staff and students for all they have accomplished the past couple of years,” said Patrick Harvell, Principal at Hillsboro Junior High School. “Being recognized by ERP and included on their Honor Roll is proof that hard work, education embedded in relationships, and accountability for everyone in your building leads to student success.”
The honor shines a positive light on HJHS’s culture where students learn the fundamental skills employers value and look for. Plus, ERP says the honor roll list becomes a valuable resource for school districts across the state to identify successful peers and learn about best practices that are improving student achievement.
“Hillsboro Junior High School students continue to excel in academics due in part to the commitment to learning from all staff,” said Darrell G. Brown, Ph.D., Superintendent of Hillsboro ISD. “This honor demonstrates that unwavering commitment and hard work, from both students and staff, lead to surpassing expectations and high-level achievements."
The last State Accountability Rating Hillsboro Junior High School received was an “A.”
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Learn more about the Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll: https://www.edresults.org/
Hillsboro High School's FFA Homesite Evaluation Team Supported by Local Builder for State Competition
HILLSBORO, TX- For the first time in Hillsboro ISD history, the Hillsboro High School Future
Farmers of America (FFA) Homesite Evaluation Team is set to compete at the State FFA
Contest on April 25. Supporting their journey, Ultra Homes, a local home builder, has generously
provided a practice area for the team to hone their skills.
Homesite Evaluation is a sector of FFA competitions and ties into the Career and Technical
Education( CTE) Plant Science Program at Hillsboro ISD. This contest involves the critical
evaluation of soil for construction and other uses, offering students insights into careers such as
soil and plant science, biological technology, and landscape supervision.
Morgan Bonds, Hillsboro High School Agricultural Science Teacher and Homesite Evaluation
Coach, highlights how FFA competitions take learning beyond the traditional classroom
activities “Participating in FFA competitions like Homesite Evaluation is crucial for students. It
teaches important lessons about soil quality, factors influencing land usability, and the broader
role of agriculture sustaining our society,” said Bonds. “Through competition experiences,
students grasp the vital connection between agriculture and various aspects of daily life
including food production to environment conversation.”
This year also marks the first time Hillsboro High School has created a team for the Homesite
Evaluation competition. The team's excitement was undeniable after placing first place in the
Area competition. “We felt a sense of pride and accomplishment,” said Bonds. “It was incredible
witnessing the growth and success of the students. It has been immensely rewarding and
highlights the positive impact of education and mentorship at Hillsboro High."
When Ultra Homes learned of the team’s advancement, they quickly arranged access to a
neighborhood site, providing an ideal setting for rigorous practice before the state contest.
As the Hillsboro High School FFA Homesite Evaluation Team gears up for the state competition,
they are bolstered by community support and the guidance of committed educators, ready to
make a positive mark on their futures and the field of agriculture.
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