Highland Middle School is being designated an Illinois Horizon and National Forum Schools to Watch for 2022, the highest and most prestigious honor given by the Association of Illinois Middle-Grade Schools (AIMS).
"I am excited for the students, parents, and staff of Highland Middle School to receive this honor,” said Principal Jon Hallmark. “Being designated a School to Watch by the Association of Middle-Grade Schools is special because it validates everything we do in regards to the middle school philosophy here. To be recognized by a middle school-based organization for being a School to Watch is a tremendous accomplishment."
This is the second time HMS has been re-designated for the honor, having been first named in 2015 and then re-designated in 2018.
The award will be presented to the school during a special visit from AIMS representatives this spring. Highland Middle School also will be recognized and showcased at the National Schools to Watch Conference in Washington D.C. in June. During the national ceremony, Highland officials will be honored at a gala dinner and are invited to meet with local representatives of Congress at Capitol Hill to discuss current topics in education pertaining to middle school and to share some of the exciting things happening in the Libertyville school.
Highland Middle School applied for the recognition and completed a lengthy application. “The site visit team was very impressed with the degree to which our school and staff fulfilled the criteria of the program,” Hallmark added.
"Last fall, a committee of Highland Middle School teachers and administrators completed a rigorous application process with AIMS on behalf of the building,” Hallmark said.
Hallmark thanked students, parents, and teachers for contributing to the success of the school in being designated with the state honor, which also propels it to the national level as a School To Watch.