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AMLE Schools of Distinction®

AMLE is on a mission to recognize schools committed to continuous improvement and the characteristics of successful middle grades schools

AMLE Schools of Distinction is both a recognition and continuous improvement program open to any school that educates students aged 10-15. Schools will be celebrated for their commitment to the middle grades best practices outlined in AMLE’s foundational text, The Successful Middle School: This We Believe, while also being guided through a process of self-assessment and strategic vision setting to help foster ongoing growth and success.

AMLE Schools of Distinction Infographic

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Schools of Distinction
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School of Distinction

The Following Schools Have Been Recognized as AMLE Schools of Distinction

Schools are selected as AMLE Schools of Distinction on an annual basis after a rigorous review process. Recognition is awarded on a four-year cycle. Schools must reapply after each cycle to maintain their Schools of Distinction Status and are expected to maintain continuous improvement work throughout their recognition.

2024 AMLE Schools of Distiction

Beach Street Middle School
West Islip, New York

Cave Spring Middle School
Cave Spring, Virginia

Crayton Middle School
Columbia, South Carolina

Custer Baker Intermediate School
Franklin, Indiana

Dorseyville Middle School
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ewa Makai Middle School
Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Girls Preparatory School
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hidden Valley Middle School
Roanoke, Virginia

J. Lupton Simpson Middle School
Leesburg, Virginia

Marietta Sixth Grade Academy
Marietta, Georgia

McCulloch Intermediate School
Dallas, Texas

Miguel Juarez Middle School
Waukegan, Illinois

Readington Middle School
Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

Seven Hills School
Richmond, Virginia

Stevenson Middle School
Honolulu, Hawaii

Tomahawk Creek Middle School
Midlothian, Virginia

Willard Middle School
Aldie, Virginia

2023 AMLE Schools of Distiction

Brambleton Middle School
Ashburn, Virginia

Farmwell Station Middle School
Ashburn, Virginia

Gilbert Middle School
Gilbert, Iowa

Kamehameha Schools
Kapālama, Hawai’i

Mattawan Middle School
Mattawan, Michigan

Mayfield Middle School
Mayfield, Ohio

Oceanside Middle School
Oceanside, New York

South Orangetown Middle School
Blauvelt, New York

South View Middle School
Edina, Minnesota

Watertown Middle School
Watertown, South Dakota

Winston Campus Jr. High School
Palatine, Illinois

Connect with AMLE Schools of Distinction

Interested in learning more about innovative and promising practices happening at AMLE Schools of Distinction? Explore our searchable database where you can identify and connect with schools around topics, school structures, school setting, and more.

Schools of Distinction Search

Schools of Distinction in Action

A core objective of the Schools of Distinction program is to foster a network of schools that can learn from and support each other. View profiles from each School of Distinction here, or take a deeper dive in the Successful Middle School Mini PD Library to learn more about these and other promising practices and how you can replicate them in your own school.

33 videos found
Kamehameha Video
A Hawai’ian Appraoch to the Whole Child Concept
At Kamehameha Schools, their Hawai’ian Culture-Based Education approach demonstrates how embracing a school’s local community and culture can ...
A Mindful Middle School
A Mindful Middle School
At Laveen Elementary School, their signature mindfulness program helps students show up as the “best version of themselves” each day. Before and ...
Winston Campus Jr High Video
A Place Where Students Belong and Become
At Winston Campus Jr. High School, students are at the center of the student experiences. Throughout the year, you’ll see a variety of ...
Oceanside Video
A Unique Approach to the Student-Counselor Relationship
At Oceanside Middle School, students meet with their counselor in small groups every six days for Group Guidance where they engage in a ...
A WIN for Students
A WIN for Students
One way Lee County Middle School West strives to meet the needs of students is through its WIN program. WIN stands for What I Need and is a daily ...
Gilbert Video
Alignment throughout the Student Experience
As a school founded on the middle school model, Gilbert Middle School takes middle grades best practice seriously. One way they do that is ...
Collective Efficacy: Having a Voice and Choice
Collective Efficacy: Having a Voice and Choice
At R.L. Stevenson Middle School, administration recognizes that engaged learners at every level are essential to maintaining a harmonious ...
Courageous Middle School Leadership
Courageous Middle School Leadership
At Ridgeview Charter Middle School, distributed leadership means The instructional leadership team honors and asks for teacher and staff voices ...
Daily, Tiered Advisory Supports Students No Matter their Needs
Daily, Tiered Advisory Supports Students No Matter their Needs
At Douglas Middle School, every day starts with advisory. But it doesn’t stop there. Students who need a tier 2 support for certain skills attend ...
Effective Strategies for Building a Culture of Success
Effective Strategies for Building a Culture of Success
At JL Simpson Middle School, students can earn spending bucks at “Monty’s Tack Shop” for honorable, engaged, respectful, and determined behavior. ...
South Orangetown Video
Empowering Students through Student-Centered Structures
At South Orangetown Middle School, the school support team, counseling program, and student voice opportunities ensure student empowerment is ...
Every Moment Matters
Every Moment Matters
At Miguel Juarez Middle School, every moment and activity, in and after school, is an opportunity to build belonging. This includes strengthening ...
Everyone is a Leader at Mattawan Middle
Everyone is a Leader at Mattawan Middle
Everyone is a mentor and mentee at Mattawan Middle School, where a shared vision focuses on what is most important in the lives of their students ...
Experiences Kids May Not Have Thought Possible
Experiences Kids May Not Have Thought Possible
At Dorseyville Middle School, they prioritize a collaborative, joyous learning environment that aims to introduce kids to new experiences and ...
Mayfield Video
Instead of a Bell Schedule, What if We Gave Teachers Time?
At Mayfield Middle School, teachers are encouraged to “flex” the traditional schedule within interdisciplinary instructional time to have blocks ...
Lend Us an EARR
Lend Us an EARR
Smart’s Mill Middle School focuses on the needs of each individual student in a holistic way, striving to continually listening to students to ...
Living By the Squires’ Code
Living By the Squires’ Code
At Cave Spring Middle School, the staff aims to foster a uniquely “Cave” experience to support students’ sense of belonging at school. Their PBIS ...
Brambleton Video
Making a Large School Feel Small
With more than 1,600 students, it’s important to the team at Brambleton Middle School to make each student feel seen and connected to the school ...
Farmwell Station Video
Middle School Students as Community Contributors
As a core value, Farmwell Station Middle School is committed to empowering students to make meaningful contributions to the world. They act on ...
Middles Helping Littles
Middles Helping Littles
At Beach Street Middle School, the whole student is the focus of special programming, including the Middles Helping Littles initiative, which ...
Mission Toward Joy and Purpose
Mission Toward Joy and Purpose
At Readington Middle School, students are asked to participate daily in the RMS mission: to take care of themselves, to take care of others, and ...
Parents as Partners
Parents as Partners
Lee County Middle School East strives to continually partner with and educate parents with opportunities like quarterly Parent Universities, ...
Rigor without Relationships is Just Mean
Rigor without Relationships is Just Mean
At Seaman Middle School, the importance of relationships is a cultural foundation that extends from the deliberate interactions during both ...
Strategies for Student Collaboration and Inquiry
Strategies for Student Collaboration and Inquiry
At Custer Baker Intermediate School, staff recognize that if we want students to think, we need to give them something truly challenging to think ...
Tackling Transitions
Tackling Transitions
At McCulloch Intermediate School, a robust transition program led by students helps welcome new students into the community, making them feel at ...
Successful Middle School Mini PD Library

Become an AMLE School of Distinction

Any school that educates any combination of students aged 10-15 is eligible to apply to become an AMLE School of Distinction. The process of becoming a school of distinction begins with the school completing the Successful Middle School Assessment. Interested schools should review the Schools of Distinction Roadmap and brochure below. When you are ready to start your journey, complete the intent to apply form and an AMLE team member will reach out to help guide you through the process.

Program Brochure

Interested schools can review the Schools of Distinction brochure to learn more about the program.

Schools of Distinction Roadmap

Program Roadmap

Check out the Roadmap for a step by step guide and timeline to becoming an AMLE School of Distinction.

Schools of Distinction Application

Intent to Apply Form

Ready to start your journey? Complete the intent to apply form and an AMLE team member will reach out to help guide you through the process.

Not sure where you are on your Successful Middle School journey or if you’re ready for Schools of Distinction? Contact Katie Powell, Director for Middle Level Programs, to learn more about the program and how AMLE resources can support your work.

Thank you to our affiliate partners for their support of the Schools of Distinction Program.