Millcreek Junior High in Bountiful is one of just 10 schools in Utah to earn a PTA National School of Excellence designation, a two-year national honor recognizing strong family-school partnerships.

Students, faculty and Davis School District administrators gathered at the school Tuesday, Sept. 22, to accept the award, the Davis Journal reported. The ceremony also marked Millcreek's 60th anniversary.

The recognition capped a year-long effort that started with surveying families about their experiences and identifying gaps in communication, according to a Davis School District announcement. A team of parents, teachers and administrators turned that feedback into a monthly newsletter, an updated website, expanded social media outreach and Spanish-language translations of school communications.

The results were measurable.

PTA membership grew more than 300%, and families and community members logged more than 800 volunteer hours over the past year. The school also serves students from portions of the Woods Cross attendance boundary, meaning the engagement push reached families across two communities.

Principal James Hansen credited last year's PTSA president, Heather Soffiantini, as the driving force behind the effort.

"We would not be here today if it wasn't for Heather," Hansen said at the Sept. 22 ceremony. "She put in countless hours into the School of Excellence process."

Soffiantini also pushed to bring students into the work. For the first time, three students representing leadership groups joined the PTSA board, giving them a direct voice in school decisions. One was Lindsey Blazard, who served as student body president last year.

Hansen said the student involvement changed how the school approached problems, adding that the students brought ideas the adults hadn't considered.

Utah PTA President Julie Cluff attended the ceremony and highlighted Millcreek's work to listen to families and ensure students have a voice in their school community. Davis School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford also attended.

The National PTA School of Excellence program is backed by more than 40 years of research linking family engagement to school improvement and student achievement. Schools earn the designation by surveying families, using data to guide decisions and implementing national family-school partnership standards.

Other Utah schools considering the program face an Oct. 1 application deadline through the Utah PTA.