GENEVA — For the first time in more than 20 years, Geneva Middle School is no longer in New York State accountability status — a milestone that marks a major turning point for the school and the broader Geneva City School District.

The designation, determined largely by student performance on state assessments, had placed the school under additional state oversight for more than two decades. The city school district said in a news release its removal “signals sustained academic progress — and a fundamental shift in how the school supports teaching and learning.”

The achievement was marked with a staff celebration Monday.

“This is a defining moment not just for Geneva Middle School, but for our entire community,” Superintendent of Schools Bo Wright said. “It reflects sustained effort, strong systems, and a commitment to doing the right work for students over time. We’re proud of this progress — and we’re not done.”

Principal Shannon Kelley said the milestone carries deep meaning for the school community.

“We have been in accountability, to my knowledge, for at least 20 years,” Kelley said. “So, not being in accountability status is a huge deal for us. We’re very proud and excited about it.”

Kelley said the progress reflects years of work.

“It speaks a lot to the efforts that have been put in by, truly, our entire staff,” she said, “but I think what also shifted was that we have worked hard to put the systems and structures in place to allow our teachers and students to be their best selves.”

The district said the work has included not only stronger collaboration within the school, but also alignment across the district.

“Our district as a whole has collaborated across all schools to better align assessment and instruction,” Kelley said.

Those shifts — common planning, shared data practices, focused professional learning, and coordinated support systems — have helped move the school from long-term accountability status into good standing, the district said.

Wright said the growth reflects the impact of that sustained, aligned work.

“This doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “It takes consistency, collaboration, and a shared belief in what students can achieve,” he said.

Kelley said the work will continue as the school builds on that progress.

“We’re really excited to be off the list and back into good standing status as a building,” she said.