Announcement was made today that Trenton High School has been nationally recognized for academic achievements despite having a majority of its students eligible for free and reduced price school lunches. T-H-S is described as being one of ten so called “break-through” schools in the NATION to receive the distinction from the Met LifeFoundation and National Association of Secondary School Principals.


T-H-S Principal Dan Wiebers wrote the application on behalf of staff and students. Representatives of the secondary school principal association spent a day last month at Trenton High School, viewing classrooms and visiting with the faculty and patrons of the community. Out of an estimated 22 thousand high schools in the nation, approximately 150 schools reportedly met the criteria and applied for the national recognition. Trenton is the first (ever) in Missouri to receive the award. The program has been available since 2007.

Promoters of the “break through schools” program noted over the last ten years, the 400 student high school has mirrored the community’s economic downtown while experiencing increases in the number of students whose family income qualifies under federal guidelines for poverty. At the same time, T-H-S is showing higher proficiency rates on state assessments and a higher graduation rate. Wiebers talked more about the recognition Trenton R-9 will receive which includes publication in a national magazine, being honored at a conference next year in Maryland, as well as a five thousand dollar grant to be spent however it deems necessary.