WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met this week with roughly 70 eighth-grade students and staff from Newcomerstown Middle School, located in Tuscarawas County. The school organizes an annual eighth-grade trip, led by history teacher Greg Marsh, to the nation’s capital.

“I always enjoy meeting with students both at home in Ohio and here in our nation’s capital. The Newcomerstown Middle School students’ thoughtful questions and commentary is yet another reminder of the excellence of our state’s schools and faculty. Their parents and teachers should be proud of these inquisitive and engaged young people,” Brown said.  “That’s why I will continue to fight for the resources needed to ensure that their future remains bright. I hope that their visit to Washington will encourage these students to become active participants in our democracy.”

Newcomerstown Middle School serves 270 students living in Coshocton, Guernsey, and Tuscarawas counties. According to the school’s website, the school has been designated “excellent” by the Ohio Department of Education for accomplishing increased test scores (meeting five of eight indicators), a performance index of more than 95 percent, an attendance rate of more than 95 percent, meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (A.Y.P.) for three consecutive years, and meeting above-expected student growth for the 2010-2011 School Year. The principal is Jason Peoples.

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