Over 40 years of research shows increased family engagement is linked to school improvement and student achievement. The National PTA School of Excellence (SOE) recognition program helps PTAs open lines of communication and use critical thinking to make data-driven decisions to increase and sustain impactful family engagement. By completing the program, PTAs earn the two‑year national designation as a PTA School of Excellence recognizing their leadership in creating welcoming, inclusive school communities and lasting change. 

The SOE program was relaunched in its current form in 2014 to support and celebrate partnerships between PTAs and schools to engage more families in student success, while creating stronger family-school-community connections.

The SOE program is grounded in the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and draws on critical thinking to make data-driven decisions and ensure efforts are intentional and align with best practices. The program guides PTAs and schools through a structured, yearlong process to increase and sustain impactful engagement and advance school improvement goals.

The Sternberger Elementary PTA has received a National PTA School of Excellence designation for 2017-2019, 2019-2021, 2021-2023, and 2023-2025. We are currently active in the process to receive the designation for 2025-2027.

You can help by completing our Sternberger Community Follow-Up Feedback Survey which is live and taking responses through Friday, May 29, 2026!

Becoming a National PTA School of Excellence began with the joint commitment of PTA and our phenomenal administrative team to work together to welcome all families, communicate effectively, support student success, speak up for every child, share power and collaborate with the community. 

The path to excellence is a journey, not a destination. We are extremely proud of the work that we have done and continue to do to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students at Sternberger.