Red Hawk Elementary School was one of 28 California schools named as a National Blue Ribbon School, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced last week.
Miguel made the announcement during his Return to School Road Trip, Tuesday, Sept. 21, while at Walter R. Sundling Jr. High School, in Palatine, Illinois, another school receiving the award. Only 325 schools nationwide received the honor.
The National Blue Ribbon School designation is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, a press release issued by Cardona said.
“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” Cardona said. “I commend all our Blue Ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional and mental health needs. In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect and teach our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have so much to offer and can serve as a model for other schools and communities so that we can truly build back better.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.
The department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates. The two performance categories, Exemplary High-Performing Schools and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools, highlight schools that are among the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests or schools that are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students, respectively.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The department invites National Blue Ribbon Schools nominations from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.
Kim Harris can be reached by email at valleyeditor@reedermedia.com.
Red Hawk Elementary School was one of 28 California schools named as a National Blue Ribbon School, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced last week.Miguel made the announcement during his Return to School Road Trip, Tuesday, Sept. 21, while at Walter R. Sundling Jr. High School, in Palatine, Illinois, another school receiving the award. Only 325 schools nationwide received the honor.The National Blue Ribbon School designation is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, a press release issued by Cardona said.“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teachin
