Ohio Governor John Kasich...
Kasich will deliver State of State Address at Steubenville’s Wells Academy
Ohio’s Best Public Elementary School to be Site of Historic, On-the-Road Address  
January  19, 2012 

COLUMBUS – Today Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich announced that he will deliver the annual State of the State address on Feb. 7 at Wells Academy in Steubenville. 

Wells Academy is the highest-ranking public elementary school in Ohio, measured by test results, and part of Steubenville City Schools.  It is consistently viewed as one of the best, most innovative elementary schools in Ohio. 

Ohio governors deliver the annual State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly; therefore the General Assembly will pass a Joint Resolution enabling it to convene for the day at Wells Academy, which shares its building and auditorium with Steubenville High School. 

Background on Wells Academy, Steubenville City Schools: 

Wells Academy is a public elementary school in Steubenville City Schools.  Founded in 1989, Wells serves 319 students in preschool through grade four. 

Emphasis is placed on a strong basic skills curriculum designed around the Ohio Models and includes standards from the Ohio Achievement Test.  Technology and distance learning are utilized, together with a focus on the fine arts, communication and social skills, public speaking, and self-expression. 

The school’s many accolades include: 

o  Ranking first among all public elementary schools in the Ohio Department of Education’s 2011 Performance Index ranking system, 

o  Being named an Ohio School of Promise every year since 2003, 

o  Earning the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, 

o  Being one of two Ohio schools to win the National Title I Distinguished School Award in 2009, 

o  Having 100 percent of tested students deemed proficient in both math and reading in 2010-2011.