2007_Blue_Ribbon

What is a NCLB-Blue Ribbon School?

The No Child Left Behind-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.

Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals. Using standards of excellence evidenced by student achievement measures and the characteristics known from research to epitomize school quality, the Department celebrates schools that beat the odds.

High poverty, tough neighborhoods, tight budgets, teacher turnover, assessment fatigue, high percentages of English language learners, teachers unprepared for their instructional duties-schools have identified many reasons over the decades to explain their failure to teach all students successfully. At the same time, communities, states, and the nation have raised the bar, and the stakes, for school achievement.

With commitment, high energy, research-based knowledge of what works in schools, and the results of quality assessments, NCLB-Blue Ribbon Schools have shown us the way over these and other hurdles.

6 Northwest suburban schools get national recognition

By Chad Brooks | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 10/5/2007 1:14 AM

Students and staff at several area schools are boasting this week after being awarded one of the top educational honors in the country.

Six schools in the Northwest suburbs were notified this week that they were one of only 287 nationwide named 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.

The winning schools were Adolph Link Elementary in Elk Grove Village, Grove Avenue Elementary in Barrington,

St. Colette and Willow Bend Elementary schools in Rolling Meadows, River Trails Middle School in Mount Prospect and Twin Grove Middle School in Buffalo Grove.

Grove Avenue School Principal Cindy Kalogeropoulos said the school is getting the award for the second time, but it is just as thrilling as the first.

"I told them (students) about how important it was and that we all worked really hard for it," Kalogeropoulos said.

The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools award, one of the most prestigious education awards in the country, honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

Specifically, winners, nominated by the state board of education, are selected based on one of two criteria: schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve overall student performance to high levels on state tests, or schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests, or -- in the case of private schools -- in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally normed tests.

St. Colette School was one of seven Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago that received the award.

"It's an affirmation of all the work that you do," Principal Valerie Zemko said. "It makes you feel like you've done what you've set out to do."

Kristine Cohn, acting director of regional services for Region V for the U.S. Department of Education, Thursday visited blue ribbon winner River Trails Middle School.

It's unusual for middle and high schools to win blue ribbons, as primary schools show the most progress, Cohn said.

River Trails' success proves older students can achieve what the federal No Child Left Behind initiative seeks, Cohn said.

Willow Bend School Principal Toni Kappel said everyone at the school is thrilled with the news.

"Quite honestly, the award is a result of efforts from students, staff and parents," she said. "We are still tongue-tied."

Aside from its academic excellence, Link Elementary School also is characterized by the depth and variety of its extracurricular programs, Principal Barbara Schremser said.

The Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 school boasts a television production studio and has offered students an environmentalist club, sign language club and multicultural activities.

"We try to find out what the interests of the students are as well as what the abilities of our staff are and try to mesh the two to produce well-rounded individuals," Schremser said.

The award is extra exciting for Twin Groves Middle School because it is the first Blue Ribbon award for Kildeer Countryside Elementary District 96. Twin Groves and River Trails were two of only three middle schools in Illinois to get the honor.

"The scores for the school have been steadily increasing over the last four or five years," said Betsy Fresen, spokeswoman for the district.

She said the school always has met state standards as a whole, but special education students also have been raising their scores over the years.

"Over 80 percent of special education students now meet or exceed state standards," Fresen said.

All of the winning schools will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in November. Two people from each school -- the principal and a teacher -- will be invited to the ceremony, where the schools will receive a plaque and a flag signifying their Blue Ribbon School status.

PRESS RELEASES

Secretary Spellings Names 287 U.S. Schools as 2007 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools

FOR RELEASE:

October 2, 2007 Contact: David Thomas

(202) 401-1579

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today named 287 schools in the United States as 2007 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools award, one of the most prestigious education awards in the country, distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

"These schools are proving that when we raise the bar our children will rise to the challenge," Spellings said. "It takes a lot of hard work by teachers and students to become a Blue Ribbon school, and it's a privilege to celebrate their great efforts."

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. The schools are selected based on one of two criteria: 1) Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; and 2) Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the case of private schools in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally-normed tests.

Under No Child Left Behind, schools must make Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, in reading and language arts and mathematics. Each state—not the federal government—sets its own academic standards and benchmark goals.

A total of 413 schools nationwide can be nominated. This number is determined based on how many schools and students reside in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Chief State School Officer (CSSO) nominates public schools, and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) submits private schools nominations. The schools are invited by Secretary Spellings to submit an application for possible recognition as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School. Those selected will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on November 12-13.

To obtain further information on the program and a list of 2007 winners please visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html.

Office of Catholic Schools | News Releases

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NAMES SEVEN ARCHDIOCESAN SCHOOLS AS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND – BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

Chicago, IL (October 4, 2007) —Seven Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago were named Tuesday by Secretary Margaret Spellings of the U.S. Department of Education as No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon Schools representing the most from any school system in the nation this year. Since 2004, fifteen Catholic schools in the Archdiocese have achieved this distinction.

“Each year we see more Catholic schools in the Archdiocese recognized for their wonderful accomplishments, and the Office of Catholic Schools is overjoyed to congratulate these seven schools on their Blue Ribbon Awards. They are realizing the goal of academic excellence set forth in Genesis, the strategic plan for Catholic schools in Cook and Lake counties,” said Nicholas Wolsonovich, Ph.D., Superintendent, Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Catholic high school receiving the Blue Ribbon award is Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, led by Dr. Judith Muchek, President and Rev. Robert Carroll, O. Carm, Principal.

The six Archdiocesan elementary schools and their respective principals and pastors are:

Ascension School in Oak Park: Ms. Mary Jo Burns, Principal and Rev. Lawrence McNally, Pastor

St. Colette in Rolling Meadows: Ms. Valerie Zemko, Principal and Rev. Dennis Zalecki, Pastor

St. Francis de Sales in Lake Zurich: Mr. Roy Rash, Principal and Rev. David Ryan, Pastor

St. Germaine in Oak Lawn: Mr. Kevin Reedy, Principal and Rev. Michael Furlan, Pastor

Immaculate Conception in Chicago (Talcott Avenue): Ms. Bernadette Felicione, Principal and Rev. Eric Meyer, CP, Pastor

St. Mary of Annunciation in Mundelein: Mrs. Deborah Dedeo, Principal and Rev. Ronald Lewinski, Pastor

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the Blue Ribbon award program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. Schools can apply for the award every five years, with winners selected based on one of three criteria:

Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests, as determined by the state school chief; Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests; or Private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent in the nation.

The principal and a teacher from each school will receive a plaque and a flag signifying their No Child Left Behind –Blue Ribbon School status at a U.S. Department of Education ceremony on November 12 and 13 in Washington, D.C. Once they have returned to their schools, Masses, ceremonies and school pep rallies will be scheduled in celebration of achieving No Child Left Behind –Blue Ribbon School status.

Illinois' suburban and Christian schools win 'Blue Ribbon' honors

By James Fuller | Daily Herald Staff Writer

Published: 10/4/2007 12:08 PM

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded nearly 20 Illinois schools blue ribbons for academic achievement.

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Nearly all of Illinois' Blue Ribbon Schools are located in suburban Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties. More than one-third of them are private, Christian schools.

The winning schools are:

-- Adolph Link Elementary School in Elk Grove

-- Ascension School in Oak Park

-- Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein

-- Central School in Glencoe

-- Fieldcrest Elementary South School in Minonk

-- Fox Creek Elementary School in Bloomington

-- Grove Avenue Elementary School in Barrington

-- Horace Greeley Elementary School in Chicago

-- Immaculate Conception School in Chicago

-- Longfellow Elementary School in Wheaton

-- Pierce Downer Elementary School in Downers Grove

-- River Trails Middle School in Mount Prospect

-- Saint Colette School in Rolling Meadows

-- Saint Germain School in Oak Lawn

-- Saint Mary of the Annunciation School in Mundelein

-- Sandburg Middle School in Elmhurst

-- St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich

-- Twin Groves Middle School in Buffalo Grove

-- Willow Bend Elementary School in Rolling Meadows