NEW: Two RI Schools Named 2013 National Blue Ribbon Award Winners
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' levels of achievement.
The department announced the awards Tuesday for 286 schools nationwide. Of the winners, 236 are public schools and 50 are private.
“Excellence in education matters and we should honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare students for success in college and careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who announced the recipients on Tuesday. “National Blue Ribbon schools represent examples of educational excellence, and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education.”
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William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School: Founded in 1971, Davies Technical High School is a local education agency (LEA) serving approximately 850 students from six sending districts: Central Falls, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, and Smithfield. Davies prepares students for careers in numerous fields including hospitality, healthcare, telecommunications, cosmetology, biotechnology, information technology, high-tech manufacturing, graphic design and printing, automotive and financial services.
Stony Lane Elementary School: Located in North Kingstown, Stony Lane Elementary School is a unique school, which offers an "open air" layout—meaning there are no classrooms. As for the school's mission, its student pledge says it all: "We, the Stony Lane students, pledge to be safe, caring, supportive and respectful. We strive to become responsible, life-long learners who contribute positively to our world."
No Rhode Island schools were named Blue Ribbon Award Schools in 2012.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which began in 1982, recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
Since its inception, the program has awarded nearly 7,500 schools.
The Nomination + Review Process
To select National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department requested nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.
For more information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program and to see a full list of winners visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2013/index.html
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