The Tennessee Department of Education has arecognized nine Putnam County Schools with the prestigious “Reward School” designation for the 2024–2025 school year — the highest number the district has ever received in a single year.

Algood Elementary, Algood Middle, Burks Elementary, Cane Creek Elementary, Capshaw Elementary, Cornerstone Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Park View School, and Prescott South Elementary were named Reward Schools for the 2024-2025 school year by demonstrating high levels of performance or improvement in performance by meeting their annual measurable objectives across performance indicators and student groups.

“Being named a reward school by the Department of Education recognizes those schools' daily hard work and dedication to student growth and achievement,” said PCSS Superintendent Corby King. “All PCSS schools are committed to providing a high-quality education for all students every day, and these schools are among the best across the state of Tennessee.”

Each year, schools and districts are eligible for designations based on their overall performance across indicators that are essential to student success, including how they prepared students to be proficient (achievement), accelerated student learning (growth), encouraged students to attend school regularly (chronically out of school), prepared students postsecondary success (graduation rate and Ready Graduate), and supported English learners acquiring language skills.

Schools are recognized as Reward Schools when they demonstrate high levels of performance and/or improvement in performance by meeting objectives across performance indicators and student groups. The Reward School distinction places significant emphasis on performance and improvement across all indicators from the prior school year.

Across the state, 459 schools, spanning 147 districts, received the Reward School designation from the TDOE for having an overall federal accountability score of 3.1 or higher out of 4.0.

The principals at all nine PCSS Reward Schools are pleased and proud to have earned the distinction.

“As principal, I could not be more proud of our incredible faculty and staff,” said AES Principal Patience Cannon. “Over the years, our teachers have worked tirelessly to strengthen instruction, support every learner, and create a culture where academic achievement is expected and growth is possible for all. Their commitment to working together, making adjustments when needed, and going above and beyond for students is the reason our school continues to reach new levels of success. Today’s honor belongs to them, and I am deeply grateful for everything they do for our students and our school community.”

“Being recognized as a Reward School is truly an honor for Algood Middle School,” said AMS Principal Rusty Darley. “This distinction reflects the commitment of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and the collective belief that every child can succeed. For me, it reaffirms the purpose behind our work each day and the pride we take in serving AMS. This achievement belongs to all of us, and it motivates us to continue striving for excellence together.”

“We are incredibly proud to be named a Reward School for the third year in a row,” said Burks Principal Heather Tinch. “This distinction reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, staff, parents, and the Monterey community. Our entire Burks Elementary family shows up every day with heart and high expectations, and this recognition is a direct result of that shared commitment. We are honored by the achievement and excited to continue building on this momentum for our students!”

“This is the first time in our school's history that we have received this prestigious designation,” said CCES Principal Kathy Koughan-Langford. “It is a direct result of the hard work of all the faculty, staff, and students at Cane Creek Elementary! I am so proud of the work the teachers and staff are doing in prepping lessons and making data-driven decisions to best support our students during Future Ready time. Every member of our school family is committed to the growth and achievement of our students across all content areas, and Ms. Vaughn and I are grateful to work alongside this amazing group of educators each and every day.”

“It is an incredible honor for Capshaw Elementary to receive Reward School status for the 2024–25 school year,” said Capshaw Principal Renee Cantrell. “Our teachers continue to build strong relationships with students and families, creating a foundation where every child feels valued. Our motto is that all students are loved, valued, and capable of amazing things.  Most importantly, teachers hold high expectations for all students, deeply believing in every child’s potential to grow and succeed!”

“It is a blessing and an honor to lead Team Cornerstone,” said CES Principal Tammy Hoover. “Our school has worked diligently over the past four years to achieve its current status by being more intentional with scheduling, preparing for lessons through intellectual preparation, focusing on improving student attendance rates, and tracking individual student data to remediate or enrich during our Response to Intervention time. We realize there is still work to be done, but it is uplifting to be recognized for all the hard work and effort the kids and teachers have put in.  I am very proud of our school, and I look forward to seeing what this current year has in store for us.”

“The recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and families, particularly in fostering a learning environment where high expectations lead to measurable success,” said NES Principal Dr. Melissa Palk. “We are excited to share this recognition with our student body as well as our community.”

“This Reward School distinction is a direct result of the extraordinary dedication and tireless effort demonstrated by our entire Park View faculty, staff, and students,” said Park View Principal Dr. Mel Presley. “We are immensely proud, tremendously excited, and already focused on sustaining this high level of excellence next year! Let's Go Rockets!”

“Achieving Reward School status for the second consecutive year is a testament to the teamwork across our school system and community,” said PSES Principal Dr. Catherine Jones. “The growth and achievement reflect the support of the District Leadership, the guidance of Academic Coaches, the partnership of the schools we partner with throughout the year, the exceptional instruction of our classroom teachers, and the commitment of our support staff. As a collective group, we have created a consistent learning environment that fosters student success. We are proud of our campus and the Putnam County School System.”