Valley played West at home Friday night. Regardless what the scoreboard may have said at the end of four, both schools were recognized as winners during a halftime presentation by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).

Valley was presented with a banner of excellence from the ODE during halftime of its football game against West Friday evening. This is the second consecutive year the district has earned the banner, recognizing their achievements on the ODE local report cards.

According to the ODE, Valley had the second highest Performance Index score in Scioto County (94.5 percent) during its 2008-09 school year — increasing over last year and the year before. The school also met 23 of the 30 state indicators and scored above expected growth of its Value Added Measure, which is a measurement of progress the district has made with students since last year.

These combined successes helped earn the district an Excellent designation by the ODE.

“Valley’s staff, parents, community and students have developed high expectations in support for each other in partnership to achieve high academic levels over the past two years. They continue to work each day to progress toward meeting academic excellence year after year, thus providing the best quality education in the area and state,” Valley Superintendent Eugene Thomas said.

Jeffrey Hardin, ODE state board member, presented the 3-foot by 5-foot vinyl Banner of Excellence to Valley Friday night during their game against West. Hardin was met on the field by Valley students, staff and school board members accepting the banner.

Last year’s banner is still hanging in Valley High School and this year’s banner will go up right next to it, Thomas said.

As Valley took a moment to collectively celebrate its own achievements Friday night, they offered congratulations to their opponent of the evening, West, for also earning an Excellent designation from the ODE. Thomas said the gesture was being made for good sportsmanship and professional courtesy.

West earned a 92.8 percent Performance Index score in 2008-09, up from 91.7 percent in 2007-08. West Superintendent Patricia Ciraso said their district is planning its own celebration assembly with the ODE sometime during the month of October.

“We are planning to have schoolwide assemblies to present the banners to student representatives and faculty representatives in celebration of our improved efforts,” she said.

In addition to Valley and West, Wheelersburg and Bloom-Vernon also earned Excellent designations from the ODE for their 2008-09 school year performance.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, or e-mail pdtwriter@ryanscottottney.com.