Tag: Blue Ribbon Schools

Louisiana Schools Among 2024 National Blue Ribbon Honorees

The U.S. Department of Education has recently recognized seven schools across Louisiana as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools, according to this news release from the Louisiana Department Of Education. This prestigious award is granted to schools that demonstrate academic excellence or make significant progress in closing achievement gaps among various student groups. The schools recognized in Louisiana this year are from six parishes: Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Ouachita, Rapides, and St. Tammany.

Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley expressed his admiration for the schools’ achievements, noting that being named a National Blue Ribbon School is a remarkable accomplishment that signifies a steadfast commitment to academic success. He emphasized the role that students, educators, and families play in setting and maintaining these high standards of excellence.

The seven schools honored with the 2024 National Blue Ribbon title are spread across the state and represent a diverse mix of public and non-public institutions. These schools are:

Being awarded the National Blue Ribbon is more than just a badge of honor—it’s a symbol of outstanding teaching and learning practices. The flag, which is often displayed in the school’s entryway or on its flagpole, is recognized across the country as an emblem of exceptional education. This recognition not only honors the achievements of the specific schools but also allows them to serve as role models for others nationwide.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, established in 1982, is one of the longest-running recognition programs of the U.S. Department of Education. Over the decades, it has celebrated outstanding schools across the nation, both public and non-public, at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The primary goal of the program is to identify schools that stand out due to their academic performance or their success in closing the achievement gap among students from different backgrounds.

The program has not only highlighted the best schools in the country but has also served as a platform for sharing best practices. These Lbest practices help educators and administrators nationwide learn from each other, creating a ripple effect that extends the benefits of the Blue Ribbon recognition far beyond the honored schools.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education collaborates with state education departments to identify outstanding schools that are worthy of the Blue Ribbon title. Nominations are based on student academic achievement metrics and progress toward closing achievement gaps. After being nominated, schools go through a rigorous review process conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, where several hundred schools nationwide are ultimately awarded this esteemed recognition.

The recognition of these seven Louisiana schools as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools is a testament to the quality of education in the state and the commitment of educators, students, and families to achieving excellence. These schools, located across different parishes, have set the bar high, serving as examples of what is possible when communities come together to prioritize education.

By celebrating their successes, the U.S. Department of Education highlights not only the importance of academic performance but also the value of closing achievement gaps and ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education. These schools are models for others to follow, showcasing the impact that dedication and collaboration can have on student outcomes.

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Louisiana Has Seven 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools

It was recently announced by the United States Department of Education that seven schools in Louisiana have been named 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools, as per this news release from the Louisiana Department of Education. Out of the 297 schools recognized by United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as being a National Blue Ribbon School for 2022, the seven Louisiana schools were located in Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, St. Landry, and St. Tammany parishes.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley commented on the achievement of these Louisiana schools by saying, “Louisiana’s National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the level of quality and choice available to families in our state. Congratulations to these schools and thank you to these educators for cultivating an environment where the top priority is student success.”

Being named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School is one of the highest recognitions in the field of education, as it is based on the school’s overall academic performance or its progress in closing achievement gaps. Of the Louisiana schools recognized, three Louisiana schools, in particular, were designated as being “Exemplary High Performing.”This exemplary award recognizes those schools that rank in the top 15% of schools in the state on both academic indicators and graduation rates. Additionally, these schools must also be in the top 40% for subgroup performance, and the ranking system includes graduation rates, school performance scores, and subgroup scores.

The three Louisiana schools recognized as being “Exemplary High Performing” were Caddo Parish Schools’ South Highlands Elementary Magnet School, Baton Rogue’s LSU Laboratory School, and Baton Rouge and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana’s St. James Episcopal Day School.

Additionally, four schools in Louisiana were recognized as showing “Exemplary Growth,” meaning that these particular schools showed significant subgroup growth. Subgroup growth is measured by a school’s ranking in the top 15% for one or more of their subgroups while also ranking in the top 40% of the state for each subgroup. The ranking system takes into account graduation rates, percentage of growth toward mastery for reading and mathematics, and school performance scores.

The four Louisiana schools recognized as showing “exemplary growth” were Lafayette Parish Schools’ Myrtle Place Elementary, St. Landry Parish Schools’ Grand Prairie Elementary School, Calcasieu Parish Schools’ Frasch Elementary School, and St. Tammany Parish Schools’ Folsom Elementary School. 

With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has awarded approximately 10,000 awards to 9,000 hardworking schools. Schools with National Blue Ribbon status are recognized by the exemplary practices they showcase, and the award itself “affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement.”

The U.S. The Department of Education annually invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from each state’s top education officials as well as the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education, and private schools’ nominations coming from the Council for American Private Education.

Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona commented on the achievement by saying, “I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams. As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”

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National Blue Ribbon Program Awards Ten Louisiana Schools

This fall, the United States Department of Education recognized ten Louisiana schools as winners of the 2020 National Blue Ribbon School awards, as reported by a Louisiana Department of Education press release. The Louisiana schools receiving this monumental honor are located in East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Natchitoches, St. Martin, St. Tammany, and Vermillion parishes.

Since 1982 the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes both private and public elementary, middle, and high schools across the United States for their overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. This program is a part of the U.S. Department of Education, and as this is their 38th year recognizing schools, the organization has bestowed nearly 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. Schools become eligible for awards after operating for five years, and to earn an award is an industry standard of greatness in that it signals that school for displaying evidence of exemplary teaching and collaboration among students, educators, families, and entire communities.

In 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devos recognized 367 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools. While presenting the nominated schools with this honor, Secretary Devos remarked on the prestige of the award by saying, “It’s a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students’ needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives.”

The two performance categories in which the schools are recognized are:

Additionally, four nonpublic Louisiana schools receiving the program’s national honor are:

Each year up to 420 schools may be nominated with the U.S. The Education Department inviting National Blue Ribbon School nominations from top school officials in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education; the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools.

With Louisiana receiving so many honors for its schools across the state, the Louisiana Superintendent of Education,Dr. Cade Brumley remarked, “This national honor speaks to the high expectations and student-first cultures you will find at all of these schools. I’m proud to have them represent Louisiana and congratulate them on this remarkable accomplishment.”

The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually on November 12th and 13th with the United States Department of Education celebrating the total 317 public and 50 nonpublic school honorees via the virtual awards and by mailing out the traditional plaques and flags to recipient schools via mail.

Profiles on all of the 2020 award recipients can be accessed on the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program site as well as a historic database of all National Blue Ribbon Schools from present day to the program’s first year, 1982.

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