Quist Middle School

👑 QUIST MIDDLE SCHOOL IS RISING TO THE CROWN! 👑

Three years ago, Quist Middle School faced significant challenges. Our overall district dashboard score was 43.0, placing us in the Developing category. Today, I am incredibly proud to share that Quist has climbed to 58.2, earning an Accomplishing rating and demonstrating remarkable growth across nearly every measure.

This achievement belongs to our students, staff, families, and community.

The story behind these numbers is even more powerful than the numbers themselves.

Over the past three years, we have intentionally transformed the way we teach, learn, and support students. We have focused relentlessly on creating classrooms where every scholar is engaged, every scholar knows what they are learning, and every scholar believes they can succeed.

One of our biggest shifts has been implementing Kagan Cooperative Learning throughout our school. Instead of students sitting passively, our classrooms are filled with discussion, collaboration, problem-solving, and active engagement. Scholars are learning from one another, building confidence, and taking ownership of their learning.

We have also worked hard to bring our Learning Intentions (Goals) and Success Criteria (Evidence) to life in every classroom. Students should never have to wonder:
✅ What am I learning?
✅ Why am I learning it?
✅ How will I know if I've been successful?

When students know the goal and can track their progress toward it, ownership increases and achievement follows.

Our teachers meet weekly in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to examine student learning, celebrate growth, identify scholars who need additional support, and ensure no student falls through the cracks. Every week, our teams ask one powerful question:

How do we ensure 100% of our scholars reach the Crown?

The results speak for themselves:

📈 Overall Dashboard Score increased from 43.0 to 58.2

📚 On-Track Grades climbed to 8.0/10, meaning more students are successfully passing classes and staying on track for future success.

📝 Common Assessment performance increased significantly as teachers collaborated, analyzed data, and adjusted instruction to meet student needs.

😊 Student Experience reached 8.0/10, showing that students feel more connected, valued, and supported.

❤️ Social Emotional Learning scored 4.0/5, reflecting stronger relationships and a greater sense of belonging.

👑 Behavior earned a perfect 5.0/5, reflecting a positive school culture built on relationships, high expectations, and support.

While we are proud of how far we've come, we know our journey is not finished. We remain committed to increasing achievement, improving attendance, strengthening family partnerships, and ensuring every scholar reaches their fullest potential.

At Quist, we believe that relationships matter, excellence is expected, and every scholar deserves the opportunity to succeed.

Thank you to our incredible staff, supportive families, and amazing students for making this possible.

Together, we continue to prove what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose.

Hearts and Minds: Every Scholar. Every Day. Whatever It Takes.

At Quist, We RISE to the Crown! 👑💙💛

We have some incredible end of year behavior data to celebrate at Quist Middle School, and I want to take a moment to share the progress our students, staff, and families have made together.

Just three years ago, our building recorded over 500 behavior incidents. Today, I am proud to share that this year we are at 148 total incidents. That is a dramatic and meaningful shift that reflects a stronger school culture, deeper relationships, and consistent work from our entire community.

For clarity, an “incident” is any documented behavior event that requires staff attention and is entered into our school tracking system. This can range from minor classroom disruptions that require intervention, to more serious behaviors that impact safety or learning. Each incident represents a moment where support, correction, or follow up was needed.

Even more important than the numbers is what they represent.

Fighting incidents dropped from 25 to 10.
Threatening behavior dropped from 16 to 4.
Ma*****na possession dropped from 9 to 1.

These reductions directly contribute to a safer, more focused learning environment for every student and staff member in our building.

We are also seeing strong growth in how students are being supported before issues escalate. The number of students with multiple referrals continues to decrease, showing that interventions, relationship building, and consistent supports are making a real difference. Our deans, teachers, and support staff are working intentionally with students and families to change patterns and build success.

Another important highlight is suspension data. Out of school suspensions dropped significantly from 135 to 46, and total days of school missed due to suspension dropped from 404 to 177. This reflects a clear commitment to keeping students connected to learning whenever possible while still maintaining high expectations for behavior.

This progress did not happen by accident. It is the result of strong systems, consistent follow through, and a shared belief that every student deserves the opportunity to stay engaged in their learning community.

We still have work to do, but these results show that we are moving in the right direction together. Thank you to our staff for their dedication, to our families for their partnership, and to our students for their growth and commitment to improving.

Quist is becoming a safer, stronger, and more connected school because of all of you. 27J Schools

Our Royals had an incredible opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, and what an unforgettable experience it was!

From exploring historic landmarks and monuments to learning firsthand about our nation’s history and government, this trip provided memories and learning experiences that will last a lifetime. Our scholars represented Quist Middle School with pride, curiosity, and excellence every step of the way.

A special shout-out goes to Ms. Brown for coordinating and organizing this amazing experience for our Royals. Her dedication, planning, and commitment made this opportunity possible for so many students, and we are incredibly grateful for all of her hard work.

Check out these amazing photos showcasing the fun, learning, and memories our Royals made throughout their journey!

At Quist Middle School, we believe learning extends far beyond the classroom, and experiences like these help our students grow as scholars, leaders, and citizens.

Rise to the Crown!

27J Schools

Last Wednesday, June 3rd, we had the honor of celebrating the Quist Middle School Class of 2026 at their 8th grade continuation ceremony.

To our 8th graders, we are incredibly proud of you. Over the past three years, you have grown in so many ways, academically, socially, and personally. You have worked through challenges, built friendships, discovered your strengths, and helped shape the culture of Quist. Watching you reach this milestone has been a privilege.

To our families, thank you for your partnership and support over these past three years. Your encouragement, communication, and commitment to your children have made a lasting impact. We are grateful to have walked this journey with you.

As you move into high school, here is some of the best advice we can offer for student success:

Be consistent with attendance and routines. Showing up matters more than most students realize.

Get involved early. Students who participate in activities, athletics, arts, or clubs are more connected, more successful, and more likely to thrive.

Build strong relationships with teachers, counselors, coaches, and peers. Connection is one of the strongest predictors of both academic and personal success.

Develop strong study habits early. Don’t wait until grades matter more, start with organization, time management, and asking for help right away when needed.

Choose your peer group wisely. The people you spend time with will influence your habits, mindset, and direction.

For parents, the most effective support during this transition is a balance of involvement and independence. Stay connected, ask questions, monitor academics, and communicate regularly, while also allowing your student to take ownership of their learning and decisions. High school is where students begin to build identity and responsibility, and they need both support and space to grow.

Class of 2026, you are ready for this next step. Keep working hard, stay true to who you are, and take advantage of every opportunity in front of you.

Once a Royal, always a Royal. We are proud of you and excited to see all you will accomplish. 👑💙💛 27J Schools

As we close the chapter on another incredible school year at Quist Middle School, the last few weeks have been filled with fun, laughter, memories, and celebration!

From exciting field trips and an amazing Field Day to students signing yearbooks, spending time with friends, and enjoying end-of-year activities, our Royals finished the year strong. Most importantly, our students continued to lean into their learning, growth, and opportunities right up until the very last days of school.

A huge thank you to our outstanding staff for creating meaningful experiences and keeping students engaged all year long. Thank you to our families for your partnership and support. And most of all, thank you to our students for making Quist such a special place.

The smiles, friendships, accomplishments, and memories made this year will last a lifetime. We are incredibly proud of our Royals and all they accomplished throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

Have a safe, fun, and well-deserved summer break. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you. Once a Royal, always a Royal! 👑💙💛

Two phenomenal nights of music at Quist Middle School! 🎶👑

Night one featured our incredible choir students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade performing in front of a packed cafeteria crowd. The energy, talent, and passion on display were absolutely amazing. In fact, the turnout was so incredible that next year we may need to move the performance into the large gym!

A huge shout out to Ms. Bell for taking our choir program to new heights. She is a phenomenal instructor, and our scholars shined all evening long. The grand finale featured 130 combined choir students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade all together on stage for an unforgettable performance. What an incredible way to end the night. Awesome job, scholars!

Night two brought another packed house as our amazing band students performed in the large gym. Mr. Oldenkamp put together a phenomenal showcase featuring our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands, followed by a combined performance unlike anything we’ve seen before. Students helped create a brand new unique piece that brought everyone together in an unforgettable finale.

Even better, several staff members joined the performance alongside our scholars! Big shout out to Ms. Brown, Ms. Campesi, Ms. Bell, Ms. Nap, and Mr. Morris for jumping in and sounding amazing with our students.

Phenomenal job to all of our musicians, directors, staff, and families for two unforgettable nights celebrating the arts at Quist Middle School. The future is bright for the Royals! Rodger Quist Middle School PTA27J Schools