SOUTH HADLEY — The Massachussetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has named South Hadley High School one of the 2024 Schools of Recognition for their improvements in attendance and academic performance over the past three years.

South Hadley High is one of 55 schools to received the title this year, along with Crocker Farm Elementary School in Amherst and Shutesbury Elementary School. DESE defines a School of Recognition as a school that demonstrates improvement or success in academic achievement and growth in attendance, academic performance, graduation rate and English language proficiency for the lowest-performing students and within the entire student body.

“It’s a sign of the great value of public education continues to be, but more importantly in South Hadley, our schools are really headed in the right direction,” Interim Superintendent Mark McLaughlin said during Oct. 3 School Committee Meeting.

DESE deciphers annual performance based on accountability indicators like MCAS average composite scores in science, math and English; amount of students completing advanced coursework, graduation rates, attendance, and progress of English language proficiency. If these data shows the school is performing up to state standards and continues to improve across the past three school years, the state names the institution a School of Recognition.

According to a statement from the district, High School Principal Liz Woods said the honor “bears witness to incredible gains in student attendance and engagement while simultaneously showing great academic achievement gains in science, mathematics and English, particularly among our most vulnerable students.”

The staff routinely analyzed and discussed student performance data within teacher teams, Woods said, and pivoted to different instruction practices to better meet student educational needs. The process, which Woods calls “cycles of inquiry,” helped the school meet state educational targets.

However, students also contributed greatly to these improvement efforts, McLaughlin told the School Committee, as the data praised by the state reflects their commitment to educationally success.

“None of this would have happened if it weren’t for the students,” he said, “who have really met the challenge that Liz and her team have set forth for them and for all of the staff. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.