At Tuesday’s school board meeting, September, 23, 2025, we had the privilege of celebrating a milestone moment for the School District of Lancaster. Four of our schools, Burrowes Elementary, Fulton Elementary, Martin Middle, and Smith-Wade-El Elementary, were inducted as the very first members of our newly created Learning Hall of Honor.
This new recognition program was designed to highlight schools that are making meaningful progress toward our district’s achievement goals. Unlike traditional awards, the Hall of Honor isn’t about ranking schools or celebrating the highest scores. It’s about growth. It’s about recognizing the persistence, teamwork, and daily commitment that help students learn more and achieve more year after year.
For Burrowes, Fulton, Martin, and Smith-Wade-El, last year’s PSSA results in English Language Arts and math showed just how powerful steady progress can be. Behind those numbers are countless stories of teachers adjusting instruction, students working hard through challenges, families supporting learning at home, and school leaders encouraging their communities to believe in what’s possible.
We know there is still much more work ahead. Our districtwide goals remain ambitious, and reaching them will require ongoing effort from all of us. But Tuesday’s celebration reminds us that progress doesn’t happen overnight, it happens step by step, lesson by lesson, and student by student. Every bit of improvement matters because it builds momentum and shows us the way forward.
Most importantly, the Learning Hall of Honor is not meant to spotlight only a few schools. It is meant to inspire all of us. Every school in SDoL has the ability to take steps toward greater achievement, and every staff member, family, and student has a role to play in that journey.
Burrowes, Fulton, Martin, and Smith-Wade-El have shown us what’s possible. And together, we can, and we will, reach our goals.
