Eight Indiana Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Award

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Eight Indiana schools were named Blue Ribbon Schools today by the U.S. Department of Education. The No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon Schools awards honor K-12 schools that either make significant gains in closing the achievement gap or demonstrate academic superiority in their states.

“Indiana schools are working hard every day to raise student achievement,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed. “Earning the national Blue Ribbon honor is a fitting tribute to the ongoing efforts of the Hoosier students and educators at these schools.”

Blue Ribbon schools are selected based on one of two criteria (Indiana winners listed below each):

1)      Indiana schools with at least 40 percent disadvantaged students that have dramatically improved student achievement:

• ·        Liberty Park Elementary School, MSD Warren Township, Indianapolis
• ·        Rousseau McClellan School 91, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indianapolis
• ·        St. Casimir School, Diocese of Gary, Hammond

2)      Indiana schools in the top 10 percent of the state with fewer than 40 percent disadvantaged students:

• ·        Centerton Elementary School, MSD Martinsville Schools, Martinsville
• ·        Christ the King School, Diocese of Fort Wayne, South Bend
• ·        Hazel Dell Elementary School, Noblesville Schools, Noblesville
• ·        Signature School Inc., Evansville
• ·        Union Township Middle School, Union Township School Corporation, Valparaiso

Indiana’s eight Blue Ribbon Schools were among 320 schools honored nationally this year. The U.S. Department of Education determines how many schools in each state are eligible to receive the award based on the total number of K-12 students and schools in that state.

For the past 26 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 5,800 of America’s most successful schools. The 2008 winners will be honored at an awards ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21. A complete list of 2008 Blue Ribbon Schools is available online at www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html.

Source: Indiana DOE