Four local schools earn National Blue Ribbon awards

Three elementary schools and one high school in Connecticut were among 297 schools across the country presented with a 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award from the U.S. Department of Education Friday.

Booth Hill School in Trumbull, Great Plain School in Danbury, Whiting Lane School in West Hartford, and E.O. Smith High School of Regional School District 19 in Storrs, were recognized for exemplary academic performance and work closing achievement gaps in education.

“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,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “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.”

Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russelltucker congratulated the four Connecticut award winners in a press release Friday.

“The Connecticut State Department

of Education congratulates all of the schools named Blue Ribbon Schools in 2022,” she said. “We have made it a focus this year to highlight what’s right in schools, and our Blue Ribbon Award winners are prime examples of the many innovative practices underway in districts to ensure the continued growth and educational success of our students.”

In the release, Governor Ned Lamont credited the state’s teacher workforce with the achievement of Connecticut students.

“Connecticut’s public schools are consistently rated among the best in the nation, and that is due to the teachers and staff who work in our school systems and provide a high level of learning that is helping our students achieve success throughout their future careers,” Lamont said. “Our administration remains committed to strengthening all of the schools in our state so that every child — no matter their neighborhood or family income level — has an opportunity to receive an education that prepares them for achievement.”

E.O. Smith

2022 marks the second time E.O. Smith has received such an accolade— the high school was also among the 1993 Blue Ribbon recipients. Since the national program began in 1982, 150 public and 32 private schools in Connecticut have received the award, but only 13 schools have earned the distinction twice.

E.O. Smith serves roughly 1,100 students from Ashford, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Mansfield, Willington, and Windham. According to a release from the governor’s office, in 2019, 80.9% of E.O. Smith graduates enrolled in a higher education institution.

“Educators at E.O. Smith encourage persistence by allowing students to revise work and reassess progress toward learning goals. The school prides itself on a blending of high standards, mastery-based learning, and personalization with ample flexibility. They do not focus on unnecessary prerequisites and timelines. Instead, they offer guidelines and create conditions that will allow all students to improve and develop their skills as self-directed learners,” the release reads.

Booth Hill School

Booth Hill School joins a list of three other schools in Trumbull with Blue Ribbon Awards. The school was recognized for exemplary high performance among its more than 500 students. According to the release, Booth Hill was one of six schools that reached the state’s target for science in all student groups during the 20182019 school year.

“Booth Hill School prides itself on fostering a strong sense of community for educators, students, and families. Faculty time is committed to grade level walk-throughs and vertical planning sessions to ensure consistency of expectations and coordination across the grade levels,” the governor’s release reads. “This school has been identified as a School of Distinction in the accountability system for three of the last four years.”

Great Plain School

The U.S. Department of Education recognized Great Plain School for its exemplary work closing achievement gaps. With the addition of Great Plain, Danbury now has five Blue Ribbon schools.

More than 50% of the school’s 280 students are economically-disadvantaged and 33% are English learners, according to the release. Great Plain was a School of Distinction for three years in a row. The school builds strong community partnerships with parents and local foundations to tackle challenges and support students.

“In 2018-19, the school demonstrated not only overall high performance in English language arts, but they were also recognized for the strong academic growth of students with high needs in mathematics and ELA,” the release reads. “In an effort to extend learning time, the school has offered a program for students to arrive at school early four days each week using district-provided transportation so that they may participate in additional math and reading instruction and enrichment based on student need.”

Whiting Lane School

Whiting Lane School is now one of 11 Blue Ribbon schools in West Hartford. The U.S. Department of Education awarded Whiting Lane School the distinction for its work closing achievement gaps.

Up until the start of the 20192020 school year, Whiting Lane had a four-year streak as a School of Distinction for student academic growth.

According to the release, 25% of Whiting Lane’s 375 students identify as having a disability. The school fosters an inclusive learning environment through its pre-kindergarten program that “Partners students with disabilities with their typical peers in a classroom that ‘promotes inclusion and an awareness and acceptance of differences...’ that permeates the school up to and through Grade 5.”