· Ninety-two district students were named Oklahoma Academic Scholars by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Putnam City, the state’s fifth-largest school district, had the third-highest number of Oklahoma Academic Scholars.

· 11 district students were named National Merit Finalists. In the last 21 years, 203 district students have been National Merit Finalists, one of the highest totals among state school districts.

· One district student was named a National Achievement Program scholarship winner. The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition created by the College Board to provide recognition for outstanding African American high school students.

· Three district students were recognized as Scholars in the 2006 National Hispanic Recognition Program. The National Hispanic Recognition Program was created by the College Board to provide national recognition of the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors

· 12 district students received the State Superintendent's Arts Awards of Excellence, the highest total of any district in the state.

· For the 14th consecutive year, Putnam City Schools was selected as one of the top school systems in the nation as a recipient of the SchoolMatch "What Parents Want Award." SchoolMatch maintains information on every public school system in the country to help employees transferred by their companies find schools that match the needs of their children. Criteria used in selecting winners of the "What Parents Want Award" include curriculum, academic test scores, recognition for excellence, library/media services, class size and above average expenditures on pupil instruction.

· Putnam City Schools was one of five school districts in the nation to receive an award from Pearson School Systems for excellence in use of data to improve teaching and learning.

· Composite ACT scores of district students continued to be higher than national or state scores.

· Students at Putnam City’s three high schools last year earned 2,061 hours of college credit and saved about $350,000 in college costs by taking advanced placement (AP) courses and passing AP tests.

· Universities continued to seek our students. Graduating seniors from Putnam City Schools this year received more than $5.5 million in scholarship from universities across the nation.

· In the classroom, 15 district athletic teams won state recognition for grade point averages of 3.25 or higher, and 16 teams were recognized for a grade point average of 3.5 or better. Two district teams were named state academic champion. In competition, Putnam City teams won the state championship in one sport and was state runner-up in another. Putnam City teams won three district, area or regional championships, and took first place in 18 invitational tournaments. Seventeen district students were named All-State, and two students won individual state championships. Thirty-eight athletes were awarded college athletic scholarships and nine athletes earned college academic scholarships.

· For exemplary records of leadership, service and activities that serve to improve the school and community, Putnam City North High School and Putnam City High School received 2007 Gold Council of Excellence Awards by the National Association of Student Councils. The two schools are among 133 schools nationwide to be named winners of a Gold Council of Excellence Award.

· In an outstanding display of student initiative, the Putnam City High School student council researched and developed a 16-point plan to reduce the school’s dropout rate, then sought and received a $78,886 grant from the State Farm Insurance Youth Advisory Board.

· Eleven district teachers earned National Board Certification last year, one of the top distinctions for quality in teaching. The district has had 69 teachers earn National Board Certification. In addition, more than 30 percent of district teachers have advanced degrees.

· Eight district educators were recognized with state or national awards for excellence in instruction.

· One district elementary teacher was one of 100 educators in the country to win $25,000 and one of the most prestigious awards a teacher may earn: the Milken Family Foundation’s National Educator Award.

· Students raised $116,782 for the district’s annual Cancer Fund Drive. Since the drive started in 1975, district students have raised more than $2.6 million for cancer research.

· Voters in the Putnam City area in March approved a $30.5 million bond proposal to maintain and improve school buildings and sustain well-equipped, high-quality learning environments.

· The Putnam City Public Schools Foundation awarded $120,000 last year to enrich and enhance education in district classrooms. Since 1987 the Foundation has awarded more than $944,000. Foundation funds support revitalization of neighborhoods surrounding schools, grants for literacy and mathematics programs, recognition of excellence in staff, students and volunteers, and other programs.

· More than 150,000 volunteer hours were worked by Putnam City parents, grandparents and patrons last year, evidence of a community committed to excellence in education.