Ralston Students Shine Academically

(Editor's note: Jennifer Kollman, who was the Ralston Middle School principal at the time of this story, has since left Ralston to work as an administrator for the Belmont Redwood Shores School District--BRSSD).

It's clear to the teachers and administrators atthat something is going right on the elementary school level. In the first trimester of the current school year, a record-setting number of students in all three grades (6-8) earned 4.0 grade point averages (GPA), and an astonishing number earned a 3.5 GPA or higher. 

Sixth graders did particularly well, according to then principal Jennifer Kollmann.  "It's significant because there's a huge leap from elementary to middle school--socially, psychologically and academically," said Kollmann. 

There are 1,003 students enrolled at Ralston Middle School for the 2011-12 school year, and sixth grade makes up the biggest chunk of the school population with 367 students. Of those 367 students, 18 percent (66 students) earned a 4.0 GPA in the first trimester, and 45 percent (165 students) earned a 3.5 GPA or better. 

"For those sixth graders to jump on board and achieve that academic success is phenomenal," said Kollmann. She added that the school assembly honoring students who achieve this academic success had to be reformatted to accommodate the large group. "We had over 940 from the first trimester of this year and the third trimester of the 2010-11 school year." She noted that last year's eighth graders who are now in high school, were not part the assembly. 

Of the 336 seventh graders, 12 percent (39 students) earned 4.0 GPAs; and 46 percent (154 students) earned a 3.5 or better GPA. The smallest class at the school is the eight grade with 300 students; 19 percent (57 students) of eighth graders finished the first trimester with a 4.0, and 39 percent (118 students) had a 3.5 or better. 

Kollmann credits the elementary schools in the for preparing students for the leap to middle school academics. (The majority of Ralston students matriculate from the six elementary schools in the district; only a handful are transfers from another district, or from come from a private school.)

"The elementary support trickles up to us, especially in music, technology and reading," she said.  She added that the technology that is now integrated into all aspects of the school will prepare kids for high school. 

"And our dedicated staff is always willing to help the kids succeed. They have after school homework clubs and they open their classrooms at lunchtime for kids who need a little extra help," Kollmann said.

In addition, Kollmann praised parents in the district for their support and advocacy. "These achievement levels are possible because of the strong partnership between the schools and the parents. We have a tradition of strong schools in this community."  Kollmann said.

"We couldn't do it without the parents, because through the PTA, we have all of our enrichment programs."

Peer support is another factor in the overall upsurge in Ralston's academic performance according to Kollmann. "The kids here honor each other. There's a lot of pride to do well academically, just like there's a lot of pride to do well athletically, artistically and musically. We celebrate achievements here on all levels." she said.

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