(ROCHESTER, NY) George Mather Forbes School No. 4 has been named a New York State Title I Distinguished School for improving student achievement and reducing the gap in performance among student groups from 1999 to 2006.

       School Principal Karon Jackson will accept the award on behalf of School No. 4 at the annual conference of the National Association of State Title I Directors (NASTID) on January 31 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The award is presented to schools that demonstrate significant, sustained academic improvement despite having poverty rates of 35% or higher.

School No. 4, which has an 89% student poverty rate, earned the award by:

• Dramatically increasing the percentage of students meeting or exceeding New York State standards in English Language Arts and Math.
  
  Since 1999, the school has increased its Performance Index—a measure used to quantify academic performance—by 90 points. In 2006, School No. 4 met or exceeded state standards in both ELA and Math.
   
  
• Significantly reducing the gap in performance among subgroups of students, including those from difference ethnic groups, students with disabilities, English language learners, and male and female students.
   
  In 2006, the gap between the lowest performing subgroup and the school average was just 3 points in ELA and 2 points in Math.
   
  School No. 4 is one of only two schools in New York State to earn the Distinguished School Award this year.
  
  For more information about the award, visit http://www.titlei.org