Tuesday the U. S. Department of Education (USED) named five Kentucky public schools as 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools, based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in improving student academic achievement.
The five Kentucky schools are:
·Auburn Elementary, Logan County
·Beechwood High School, Beechwood Ind.
·Glendover Elementary, Fayette County
·Mann Elementary, Boone County
·Star Elementary, Carter County
The Kentucky schools are among the 286 public and private, elementary, middle and high schools across the country recognized this year. There were no private schools in Kentucky named as part of the 2013 cohort of Blue Ribbon Schools.
The national Blue Ribbon Schools program has become a trademark of excellence and a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policymakers.
The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories:
1)Exemplary High Performing Schools -- must rank in the top 15 percent in the state on the latest state assessments of reading or English/language arts and mathematics;
2)Exemplary Improving Schools -- at least 40 percent of students are from disadvantaged backgrounds and the school scores among the top 10 percent of those in the state with the greatest five year improvement on state assessments of reading or English/language arts and mathematics. A student with a disadvantaged background includes those who are free and reduced-meal eligible, disabled, limited English proficient, migrant or receiving Title I services.
Whether high performing or improving, a school must not have large gaps in achievement
among its various student groups.
“Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon schools are leading the way in preparing students to be college/career-ready,” said Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. “Every child deserves a world class education and these schools are models for those in the rest of the state where students are not yet achieving or improving at such a high level.”
Representatives from each of Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon schools will join those from other states at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C on Nov. 18-19. In addition, Commissioner Holliday will visit each school over the next several months to offer his congratulations.
David Ward is principal of Auburn School, and Kristina Rice assistant principal, succeeding Katina Kemplin, who is in her first year as Adairville principal. Rhonda Powell is counselor. The faculty includes 50 teachers and 20 support staff, who work together for the educational improvement of over 700 students. Marshall Kemp is superintendent of Logan County Schools.
The school’s website lists the following faculty members: Carla Abbott, Tina Adkins, Martha Bayles, Mandy Beasley, Kay Belcher, Robert Belwood, Georgia Bryson, Ashley Cannon,Calli Clark, Molly Clark, Allison Coleman, Andrea Coleman, Tabitha Conrad, Kimberly Cron, Kaci Dubree, April Engler, Becky Engler, Jan Estes, Jenni Fansler, Joshua Hall, Sarah Hatton, Lynn Head, Karen Hughes, Staci Hughes, Andrea Ingram, Sarah Jennings, Katosha Jessie, Vivian Johnson, Paula Kirkham, Ashley Latham, Beth Leibfreid, Brittany Mahler, Krystal Martin, Angela McColpin, Becca McKinney, Jamie Metcalfe, Amy Mooneyhan, Josh Owens, Sarah Owens, Tina Owens, Shannon Pearson, Brandi Powell, Jamie Ranes, Kristina Rice, Chelsea Scott, Andrea Scott, McKense Shepherd, Julia Stamps, Joyce Taylor and Holli Waltrip.
Auburn. which was a Kentucky School to Watch, becomes the second-ever local school to earn Blue Ribbon status. Adairville was named a Blue Ribbon School in 2001.
Since USED revamped the Blue Ribbon program in 2003, 45 Kentucky public schools have been designated Blue Ribbon Schools. More information on the program is available at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html