The Tennessee Department of Education named 10 Rutherford County schools as “Reward Schools” today for scoring in the top 5% in the state either in student performance, student progress or in both categories.

“I’m very proud we increased the number of reward schools this year in Rutherford County,” Director of Schools Don Odom said, referring to the six schools that received reward status last year. “It’s an attempt to focus on each child.”

Only 169 schools from 52 of the state’s 140 school districts received the honor this year.

Thurman Francis Arts Academy in Smyrna received the honor for ranking in the top 5% in the state for both student performance and student progress.

Four Rutherford schools received the honor for ranking in the top 5% for student progress: Barfield Elementary School in Murfreesboro, Cedar Grove Elementary School in Smyrna, Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, and Smyrna Elementary School in Smyrna.

Five schools received the honor for ranking in the top 5% for student performance: Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Homer Pittard Campus School in Murfreesboro, Lascassas Elementary School in Lascassas, McFadden School of Excellence in Murfreesboro, and Stewarts Creek Elementary School in Smyrna.

“We have very strong Professional Learning Communities. Our teachers collaborate often,” Smyrna Elementary Principal Amy Patton said. “It’s a testament to what the teachers do everyday.”

Forty-one percent of Smyrna Elementary’s students are English Language Learners, which is the largest population of ELL students in a single Rutherford County school.

Oakland Principal Bill Spurlock offered gratitude for the support and dedication of the Oakland community.

“We’d like to thank the students and faculty for working hard to raise our scores,” Spurlock said. “We’re very proud of them.”

Oakland High School is an International Baccalaureate World School, the only such school in Rutherford County.