Sept. 9, 2008

Twenty-six Texas public schools named NCLB- Blue Ribbon Schools

AUSTIN – Twenty-six Texas public schools were today named No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

This national program recognizes outstanding public and private schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic and consistent gains in student achievement. Under the program guidelines, Texas may nominate a maximum of 26 public schools for the award each year. This year all 26 nominees were selected to receive the award.

Schools nominated for the recognition must meet one of two criteria:

1. At least 40 percent of a school’s student body must come from disadvantaged backgrounds and students must show dramatic improvement in performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) over the past three years in reading or English language arts and mathematics; or

2. The schools’ students must be ranked in the top 10 percent on tests in reading or English language arts and mathematics.

In addition, Blue Ribbon Schools must also meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading or English language arts and mathematics, must not be identified as a "Persistently Dangerous" school within the last two years, and be in compliance with other USDE requirements.

Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott said, "The Blue Ribbon School award brings well deserved recognition to these 26 outstanding schools and demonstrates that you can find excellent performance in schools of all sizes. I’m proud that the U.S. Department of Education’s award recognizes the strong academic work that is occurring in our schools."

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and the Department of Education will honor the Blue Ribbon School recipients and highlight their achievements at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Oct. 20-21. The award recipients will be recognized as national models of excellence.

A list of the Texas public schools named the 2008 NCLB—Blue Ribbon Schools follows.

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