Editor:
Even though Acton Elementary School is the only school in York County to have consistently met adequate yearly progress as based on the Maine Educational Assessment, there is much more to cheer about at Acton Elementary School. The former Blue Ribbon School’s students continue to excel in many areas.
Test Scores: Seventh and eighth grade students have scored higher than the national average on the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress Test in reading and mathematics. Our students are prepared to excel at the high school level. In the current grade eight class, 30 percent of students will enroll in Honors English and 57 percent of students will enroll in College Prep English. Seventy-five percent of grade eight Algebra I students will enroll in Honors Geometry. Fifty-three percent of the graduating class is eligible to begin Spanish II as freshmen. 
Individual Achievement in a Variety of School Programs: For the past five years up to two students have received special state recognition for high scores on testing through the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Last year, two middle school students completed geometry with grades at the top of the Sanford High School class. Three students from advanced band participated in this year’s York County Junior High Music Festival, which only accepts the best grade seven and eight musicians in York County. One advanced band member and five chorus members participated in the District No. 1 Sixth Grade Honors Music Festival.
For several years, Acton student artwork has been displayed at the Portland Museum of Art as part of Youth Art Month.
Team Competition: Acton Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind has sent a team to World Competition each of the past five years. This year, four out of nine teams received a trophy at the state Odyssey of the Mind Competition.
A Lego Robotics Team has received a trophy at state competition for the past three years.
Kyle Rhoads, principal
Acton Elementary School