Mohawk Junior High School, recognized as the premier junior high school in Lawrence County according to a national report, has achieved the impressive ranking of 96th in Pennsylvania and has secured the top position in Lawrence County based on the 2024 best middle school rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
Superintendent Dr. Lorree Houk expressed pride in this accomplishment, attributing it to the collaborative efforts of the staff, students, school board, and community in fostering a positive and supportive learning environment at Mohawk Junior-Senior High School. Dr. Houk also highlighted the crucial role played by Mohawk Elementary in preparing students for their junior high experience, emphasizing the spirit of cooperation across the entire district.
The ranking methodology considered various factors, including state assessments of students’ proficiency in mathematics and English language arts, student demographics, core subject performance, and teacher effectiveness. Data from the U.S. Department of Education and standardized test scores were instrumental in evaluating over 79,000 public elementary and middle schools nationwide.
LaMont Jones, the U.S. News Managing Editor for Education, underscored the significance of the 2024 Best Elementary and Middle School rankings as a valuable resource for parents to gauge their child’s school performance relative to others in the community.
During a recent school board meeting, board members approved applications for three grants aimed at improving student mental health and safety. These grants comprise a Mental Health Grant of \(118,528, a Meritorious Safety Grant of \)35,000 valid until December 31, 2025, and a Competitive Safety Grant of $450,000 available until April 30, 2026.
The Mental Health Grant is designated to sustain funding for the district’s social worker and school psychologist, while the Meritorious Safety Grant will bolster the psychologist’s role. The Competitive Safety Grant aims to cover salaries for the social worker and psychologist, acquire protective window film and vehicle barriers, and facilitate staff training in suicide prevention and professional development for students.
Furthermore, the district’s comprehensive plan, professional development plan, induction plan, and gifted education plan were approved through the 2026-27 school year. These plans are tailored to enhance student education, teacher and staff development, and support for newly hired staff.
In personnel updates, Allison Bell and Barbara McVicker were appointed as the girls junior high track coach and substitute teacher, respectively. Additionally, elementary teacher Amy Johnson is scheduled to retire at the end of the current school year.
The board also granted permission to the Motorcycle Safety Academy, an external training provider for PennDOT, to conduct weekend classes from April 20 to October 6.
Appreciation was extended to the district’s Forever Friends and Elementary Wake Up Warriors programs, as well as the high school chain reaction contraption team. The team showcased their project, securing third place in the Chain Reaction Contraption Competition at Westinghouse in Cranberry Township and receiving special recognition for successfully executing the longest contraption.