Popular Now
Learn about the coveted Blue Ribbon of Distinction and why it is an important education award.
This year, the U.S. Department of Education has recognized more than 250 public schools and 50 private schools across the country for their commitment to excellence and their ability to overcome outstanding odds to properly educate their students. These schools have received the Blue Ribbon of Distinction, an award reserved for schools that boast students who meet and maintain high educational goals. The current winners are listed on the U.S. Department of Education website.
What is a Blue Ribbon of Distinction?
According to the Blue Ribbon website, "The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their state or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement."
The award has been given out since 1982, evaluating student achievement with measurable characteristics that help identify not only the high achievers, but also those schools that have achieved despite difficult odds. The award is particularly focused on schools that have overcome hurdles like poverty, tight budgets and high teacher turnover to produce student achievement well beyond their means.
Benefits of the Blue Ribbon Program
The Blue Ribbon of Distinction serves three different purposes. First, it identifies the highest achieving schools in the country, using standards that correctly interpret student performance and improvement. Second, the program makes criteria available to all schools to help them evaluate their current quality status and find appropriate places for improvement.
Finally, the Blue Ribbon program facilitates the exchange of information between the award-winning schools and those looking for solutions to their own obstacles. According to the Temple Laboratory for Student Success website, the recognition some schools receives stimulates the efforts of other schools to achieve the high standards as well. Because proven programs are shared among all schools, lower achieving institutions have models to help them raise their own bar and vie for the award in subsequent academic years.
Eligibility for Blue Ribbon Status
Schools that are interested in achieving Blue-Ribbon status must meet one of the following criteria, depending on the category the school falls into:
- High Performing Schools – These are the schools that are ranked high performing based on state assessments in both reading and mathematics. To be eligible, these schools must score at the highest performance level on tests referenced by the national norms in the most recent year tested.
- Improving Schools – These schools have at least 40% of their student body coming from disadvantaged situations, and they are rated by improving students to high levels on both reading and mathematics assessments according to national norms in the most recent year tested.
Both private and public schools can be eligible for the Blue Ribbon of Distinction if they fit into one of these two categories. Typically, chief state school officers make nominations to the U.S. Department of Education, and the number of schools that can be nominated is directly proportionate to the state's population. Other organizations that may nominate schools for the Blue Ribbon award include the Council for American Private Education, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools.
Charter Schools Making the Grade
Of the 254 public schools that received the Blue Ribbon of Distinction in 2010, 14 were public charter schools. These institutions are governed by a private charter, but receive public money like any other public school. Charter schools receive waivers from the public school district in exchange for promising to produce higher academic results. These schools are typically monitored for anywhere from three to five years to ensure they keep up their end of the bargain in terms of academic achievement.
PR News Wire reports that the 14 charter schools receiving the Blue Ribbon of Distinction this year span the nation, from a school in Alaska to one in South Carolina. Peter C. Groff, president and CEO for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools said, "Public charter schools are among the nation's top schools, and the Alliance congratulates the educators and families who have worked to bring high-performing schools into their communities."
The Blue Ribbon of Distinction is a prestigious award that exemplifies excellence in education. Students who attend these schools have the satisfaction in knowing their educators and staff are equipped to help them succeed academically, no matter what their background and income level might be. Thanks to the sharing of resources, schools that did not make the distinction can also improve their standards using the models schools set before them as a guide.
comments powered by Disqus
Recent Public School Articles
Published June 15, 2013
Texas recently passed legislation decreasing the number of standardized tests for high school students, but how will this impact graduation standards?
With many tragic cases of cyberbullying reported to date, a recent study shows the problem is actually increasing among high school students across the country.
Summer loss is a real phenomenon that can be easily avoided, as long as children keep their minds sharp in the warm months. Use these 10 tips to help your student retain all they learned through the year.
Evaluating Public Schools 
