This presentation details the exciting transformation happening in the Cumberland Valley School District in the areas of student expectation, rigorous programming, and data-driven, systems-thinking leadership. The presentation focuses on all aspects of this initiative and provides a potential roadmap to teachers, administrators, and all school constituents who aspire to exceeding the minimal expectations associated with the age of standardized testing. Qualitative and quantitative data will uniformly support the growth of practices and programs that demand educational excellence from our students in the context of a transition from traditional pedagogy to a focus on 21st century instruction and assessment.