Chesapeake elementary school given blue ribbon honor
CHESAPEAKE — An elementary school in Chesapeake earned a national award Thursday for closing achievement gaps in learning.
Camelot Elementary is one of just seven public schools in Virginia to be named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, along with a Catholic school in Falls Church. In all, 367 schools were given the honor this year.
Camelot was selected based on progress it made toward closing achievement gaps. That refers to the disparity in academic performance between groups of students that can show up in grades, standardized test scores and dropout rates, among other factors, according to Education Week and the National Center for Education Statistics. The gaps can be measured by race, sex, Englishlanguage proficiency or other factors like economic backgrounds.
“Each of these schools is the center of a learning community dedicated to the success of every child and our shared values of inclusion, excellence, service and optimism,” State Superintendent James Lane said in a statement. “I think it is especially important that we recognize and celebrate schools that are leading the way in achieving equitable outcomes for all students.”
Located in the Deep Creek section of the city, Camelot served a total of 518 students last year, according to its application to the Department of Education. About 66% were Black, 14% white and 11% Hispanic. It’s a Title I school, meaning it receives federal funds to support academic needs for schools with high percentages of children from low-income families. It has been fully accredited for the last two school years, according to its application.