County's Top-Notch Education Takes the Spotlight
Rutherford County’s first-rate schools, innovative learning programs and excellent teachers consistently earn top marks. As a bonus, the region's top-quality public education also plays an important role in the region’s economic growth.
The We Know Education in Rutherford County, Tennessee campaign showcases these educational assets to prospective residents, companies, investors and visitors. The campaign was launched in early 2009 by Destination Rutherford – a citizen-based, public-private partnership initiated by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce for strategic planning and economic growth.
“We have such a great educational system here, but in the past, we haven’t marketed this as well as we might have. Now we’re promoting it through the We Know campaign,” says Holly Weber, vice president of economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Businesses considering expansion or relocation look at education as one of the most important influencing factors, and Weber notes that the quality of schools is an accurate predictor of the area’s future workforce and a contributor to the high quality of life that attracts prospective and relocating employees.
The We Know campaign has created a brochure, DVD and Web site to help get the word out. The chamber’s economic development department distributes brochures and DVDs to prospective companies, and local real estate agents and businesses circulate them to individuals looking to move to Rutherford County. On the Internet, the We Know Web site, www.rutherfordeducation.com, brims with in-depth information, photographs, news articles and statistics – and visitors can view the video online as well.
The two public school systems that educate Rutherford County’s children – Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools – have plenty to brag about.
For example, Murfreesboro City Schools is currently ranked sixth in the state and has consistently numbered among Tennessee’s top-10 school districts, according to the Tennessee Department of Education Report Card of Schools. The district employs seven teachers who have been named to the Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame and three who have been named Tennessee Teachers of the Year. The district as a whole has received more than $5 million in grant funding in recent years.
Its award-winning schools include Discovery School at Reeves Rogers, where curiosity-driven learning helped earn the No. 1 ranking statewide in math and English proficiency.
Other innovative city schools include Hobgood Elementary, a participant in the NASA Explorer Schools program; Bradley Academy, an arts-integrated school; and Bellwood-Bowdoin Preschool, named for nationally renowned early-childhood-education pioneer and Murfreesboro teacher Ruth Bowdoin.
“We are promoting our rankings as well as the variety of offerings at different schools and in different neighborhoods," Weber says. “Through the We Know campaign, we try to dig deeper than the standard information to show the diversity of our programs."
Rutherford County Schools also boasts top rankings. Scoring all A's in state Department of Education rankings and placing above the state average for academic achievement in all grade levels, Rutherford County Schools outperformed every other district in the greater Nashville region.
At Smyrna High School, a popular, award-winning culinary arts program prepares students to pursue higher education and careers in the food service industry through hands-on experience and community service.
“At Smyrna High, the culinary students operate a coffee shop and restaurant that is open to students and faculty,” says Tammy Sandlin, the program instructor. “We also cater on- and offsite. The professionalism of our students, quality of our food and awesome presentation make us popular with the community for catering needs.”
Among numerous accolades, the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Culinary Federation recently nominated Smyrna High School’s Culinary Arts program for its 2009 Hospitality Award, and it nominated Sandlin as Educator of the Year.
Six Rutherford County middle schools number among the top 50 schools in the state, and the Nashville Business Journal ranked McFadden School of Excellence – a K-8 magnet school focused on communications technology – the No. 1 middle school in Middle Tennessee.
Blackman High School was named one of 25 Pacesetter Schools nationwide for improving curriculum standards through the High Schools That Work program. Oakland High School offers the International Baccalaureate program, which focuses on academic achievement and community service.
Rutherford County Schools’ teachers have garnered awards such as the Tennessee Academy of Science Distinguished Teacher and a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.
To help keep kids healthy and fit, both school systems use the Take 10! program, which integrates 10-minute blocks of physical activity into learning objectives such as language arts, science, social studies, math and health.
Area residents also have the option of many excellent private schools.
