THREE NM SCHOOLS EARN TOP AWARDS
Three New Mexico schools earn National Blue Ribbon Schools awards
National Blue Ribbon Schools prize is one of the highest national honors for improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award has been given to Career Enrichment Center & Early College Academy in Albuquerque, Ladera Del Norte Elementary in Farmington and Logan Elementary in Logan.
These three schools earned one of the highest national honors for improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps, New Mexico Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Public Education Department and the State of New Mexico, I want to congratulate the students, faculty, staff and administration at all three of these incredible schools,” Stewart said. “We are proud to hold them up as exemplars of what all public education institutions should strive for and will continue to support the amazing work they do on a daily basis.”
Schools across the country are recognized in two categories: Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools and Exemplary High Performing Schools.
Career Enrichment Center & Early College Academy and Logan Elementary were honored in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category.
Ladera Elementary was honored in the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools category, according to a news release.
“I am so very proud of our elementary students and staff,” said Logan Superintendent Dennis Roch in a statement. “I’m especially gratified that this award recognizes the strong history of achievement our school is known for.”
Schools are required to demonstrate dramatic progress in student achievement growth or show overall academic excellence and must be nominated, in this case by NMPED, in order to qualify for this program.
PED submits applications to the U.S. Department of Education for consideration and review.
The winning schools in the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools category are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students, PED said in the release.
Schools recognized in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has invited annual National Blue Ribbon Schools award nominations from state education agencies and top education officials.
A total of 420 schools nationwide were nominated this year, with awards determined by the number of K-12 students and schools in each state or jurisdiction.
The national Blue Ribbon Schools program so far has bestowed recognition on more than 9,000 schools.
The U.S. Department of Education and Secretary of Eucation Betsy DeVos will celebrate all 2019 honorees at an awards ceremony Nov. 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C.