MATTOON - Coles Together announced today that Mattoon Unit 2 has been ranked as a "Blue Ribbon" school district by Expansion Management magazine in its annual education quotient issue. Dan Marvin, Coles Together Vice President, is to present the award to school board president Mike Croy at the board's meeting tonight. Each year, Expansion ranks more than 1,000 school districts across the country on how well the district is preparing its students to be part of the workforce after graduation. The special report is mailed to more than 45,000 cheif executive officers, vice presidents, directors and other officers of companies who have indicated they are considering expanding into new areas.

"We are extremely pleased and proud, although not at all surprised, that our local district performed well, " said Jeanne Gustafson, executive director of Coles Together. "The quality of the local workforce is the primary consideration of most industries when they evaluate a community as a potential location." To be ranked as a Blue Ribbon School, a district must score well above average in the "graduate outcome" category, which measures the end product of the education process and includes graduation rates and college board scores (SAT and ACT). A Blue Ribbon School must at the same time be at or below the national average in spending, having achieved this level of excellence on a moderate budget.

"We are very honored to have been recognized by Expansion Management for offering a quality education program at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer," said Unit 2 Superintendent Richard Berg. "We have always felt, and continue to feel that the school district plays a vital role in the economic development of the community, and this award reinforces that belief." Expansion Management Editor Bill King said the education quotient issue is the magazine's most popular issue. The education quotient is used by magazines such as Money and American Health to make judegments s to most "livable" cities and "healthiest" cities.

Used with permission from Mid-Illinois Newspapers
Publishers of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier

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Coles Together
400 Airport Road
Mattoon, Illinois 61938
(217) 258-5627 FAX (217) 235-9492