First the facts…Rutherford County has six middle schools ranked in the state’s top 50 schools in a three-way tie with two other Tennessee counties for top-performing middle schools. Murfreesboro’s elementary school system is #6 statewide. Discovery School at Reeves Rogers is ranked #1 statewide in Math and English proficiency.
Now, the people behind the facts…We all know that teachers set the pace in terms of classroom accomplishment. Our teachers are outstanding and many come from our anchor university, Middle Tennessee State University, the state’s largest public undergraduate university and an anchor employer and educator in Rutherford County.
Blackman High School teacher Sarah Millsap was recently named the Tennessee Academy of Science Distinguished Teacher for 2008 for her work coaching students to the American Chemical Society Chemistry Olympiad and the Expanding Youth Horizons Conference.
In addition, Stewarts Creek Elementary School teacher Trey Duke received the National Educator Award from California-based Milken Family Foundation. He was one of 80 teachers nationwide to receive the award and prize of $25,000 and the only teacher in Tennessee to receive the award.
Great teachers like these make our education system soar!
McFadden School of Excellence (elementary) ranked #9 statewide and the middle school ranked #1 in Math and English proficiency.
In this middle Tennessee county of 240,000+, our children are educated primarily by Rutherford County Schools (pre-K through 12), Murfreesboro City Schools (pre-K through 6), and private schools.
The educational assets of Rutherford County are in two categories – the county’s P-12 system and its institutions of higher learning, including Middle Tennessee State University, Motlow State Community College, Tennessee Technology Center and the Tennessee Vocational Training Center.
Programs like the Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership Foundation at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce build collaborations between businesses and schools through grants, programs and services such as the BC3 Academy for Math/Science Study Enhancement, State Farm Summer Business Camp and job shadowing. BEP/Nissan teacher mini-grants are made available to teachers to fund specific classroom projects.
Community enhancements like the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, coupled with special learning and enrichment activities through Middle Tennessee State University’s programs for young people, provide a year-round palette of learning opportunities.
Middle Tennessee State University, the state’s largest public undergraduate university, is a key player in providing enrichment programs to Rutherford County’s public and private school systems.
