Front Page News
October 8, 2014
National Blue Ribbon Honors Chichester Central School
U.S.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today recognized Chichester
Central School to be included as one of 337 schools as National Blue
Ribbon Schools for 2014. Chichester Central was selected as an
exemplary high performing school, demonstrating that all students
can achieve to high levels.
The
Department will honor 287 public and 50 private schools at a
recognition ceremony on Nov. 10-11 in Washington, D.C. In its
32-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has
bestowed this coveted award on just under 7,900 of America’s
schools. “These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American
education—that all students, no matter their name or zip code, can
flourish when schools provide safe, creative, and challenging
learning environments,” Secretary Duncan said. “National Blue Ribbon
Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other
schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort
and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student.”
The
National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private
elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve
very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in
closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of
students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and
welcoming schools where students master challenging content. All
schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based
on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation
rates:
•
Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest
performing schoolsas measured by state assessments or nationally
normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school
graduation rates are also at the highest levels.
•
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s
highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a
school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.
Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for
each subgroup are at high levels. Specifically, for the 2013-2014
award year, the Department strengthened the focus of both
categories’ performance criteria around subgroups within a school
and improving graduation rates for all students.
The
Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the
top education official in every state, 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. 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 U.S. Secretary of Education invites nominated
schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a
National Blue Ribbon School.
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