Ask principal Janice Koslowski what her school is doing right, and she’ll point to the award for middle school excellence that her school received in 2007.

With three computer labs in a building equipped with wireless Internet, Koslowski said technology is key to the success of each of her students.

“The list is endless,” she said of how technology is embedded into student learning. “Teachers integrate all kinds of technology (into the classroom) every day.”

The school also has numerous clubs available for its students. The list includes the spelling bee club, book club, garden club and several others.

The school doesn’t have an ESL program because of the small number of students – less than 10 – who don’t speak fluent English. Students who do need ESL classes attend a nearby school for such services.

About 85 percent of the school’s students passed all required SOL tests in 2005-06, according to the school’s improvement plan. The goal set by the Loudoun County school district is 90 percent.

The improvement plan states that 45 percent of lower-income students passed the SOL reading test, compared with 92 percent of other students. School officials are hoping to close that gap.

Koslowski praised the involvement of parents at the school. As the school has grown – it had 1,070 students in the 2006-07 school year – the PTO and the number of volunteer-hours logged by parents has also grown, she said.

Koslowski said the school doesn’t face any specific challenges separate from the district as a whole.

“I don’t feel like we have any challenges that are unique to us,” she said. “I think most (challenges) are at the district level.”

Eagle Ridge hosts an event each spring that includes a talent show and activities for student and parents. The Night at the Ridge event is just one example of how the school and community work together, she said.

“We emphasize relationships with teachers and parents, students and teachers, and students and parents,” she said. “We’re constantly looking at how we can do things better overall.”