State releases 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools
From Georgia DOE:
2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools Named
September 15, 2009 — Seven Georgia public schools were named 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools today.
“These seven schools are outstanding examples of how high expectations and hard work can lead to outstanding student achievement,” said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. “These schools show that, regardless of a school’s size, geography or demographics, all students can achieve at high levels.”
The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools award distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the National Blue Ribbon School award winners this morning. (See U.S. Department of Education Release.)
Blue Ribbon Schools are chosen in one of three categories
- TOP 10%: (40% Disadvantaged): Schools that scored in the top 10 percent in student achievement AND have at least 40 percent of its students considered economically disadvantaged.
- GREATEST GAINS: Schools with at least 40 percent economically disadvantaged students that have dramatically improved student achievement to high levels.
Five Georgia private schools also were named National Blue Ribbon schools. The selection process for private schools is different. Here is more information.
Georgia’s winning schools will join other national winners at an awards ceremony on Nov. 3 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. For more information on the Blue Ribbon Schools program, go to the Blue Ribbon Schools Web site.
2009 GEORGIA BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
Public
- Alice Coachman Elementary School, Dougherty County
- Carter Godwin Woodson Elementary School, Atlanta Public Schools
- DeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb County
- Hightower Trail Middle School, Cobb County
- Honey Creek Elementary School, Rockdale County
- Trion High School, Trion City Schools
- Tunnel Hill Elementary School, Whitfield County
Private
- Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Johns Creek
- Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Atlanta
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, Atlanta
- Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, Tyrone
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Brunswick
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18 comments Add your comment
blue ribbon schools – 海运女
September 15th, 2009
12:47 pm
[...] Saints Catholic School | Manassas, Virginia – http://www.allsaintsvaschool.org/|||State releases 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools | Get SchooledFrom Georgia DOE: 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools Named September 15, 2009 — Seven Georgia [...]
Lisa
September 15th, 2009
1:31 pm
GO DSA!!!!!!!
flipper
September 15th, 2009
1:53 pm
The Pope must have paid someone off in DOE central office. Five Catholic schools?
Maureen Downey
September 15th, 2009
2:02 pm
flipper, I noticed that, too. Congrats to those schools.
I just went to the guidelines for private schools and they are demanding. Here are the two categories under which a private school could apply for Blue Ribbon status:
- High performing schools: Schools, regardless of their demographics, that are in the top 10 percent of schools in their states as measured by state tests in both reading and mathematics or that score in the top 10 percent on assessments referenced against national norms in at least the highest grade tested in the last year tested.
- Dramatically improved schools: Schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dramatically improved student performance to high levels in reading and mathematics on state assessments or assessments referenced against national norms in at least the highest grade tested in the last year tested.
Why is this even a topic...
September 15th, 2009
2:38 pm
To get on this list you have to be really bad to start and then “The award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools… that have made dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close gaps in achievement among minority and disadvantaged students”. You can spin that many ways, but the bottom line is that these schools sucked big time, and probably still do, except for some timely test score manipulating!
BamaAKT
September 15th, 2009
3:32 pm
@ Why is this even a topic……….I am not sure about all of the schools on the list, but your statement is not the case with Honey Creek Elementary. This school is right down the road from me and is always competing with our elementary school for top honors. This school has consistently had great test scores, has caring teachers and has incredibly involved parents. Just check out their test scores year to year. People can put down Rockdale county all they want, but we have three of the best elementary schools around. I actually pulled my daughter out of private school to attend our public school and when I did she was behind. Excellence is expected and they will not hesitate to have a child repeat a grade.
alice
September 15th, 2009
3:38 pm
DSA wins — wow, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of extra dollars spent on teaching staff by DeKalb County Schools and its’ taxpayers. Not to mention that they can (and do) kick students out for not performing well academically and students need certain grades and test scores to be admitted.
Keep in mind that not even every elementary school in DeKalb has art and music but DSA (and DESA) get all these extras!
Cere
September 15th, 2009
3:47 pm
DSA making this list is a slap in the face to the rest of DeKalb. Alice has it exactly right. In fact, the school system allocated $10 million to move these 284 students and their own principal, teachers, counselors and support staff into Avondale HS and renovate their portion of the school. This equates to about $35,000 per student! (And the 284 actually includes 8th graders – 12 graders.) Plus – these students are tested prior to admission – they don’t even admit students who don’t score well on standardized tests. DeKalb – stacking the deck again! They wouldn’t be on any list anywhere without their magnet schools to pull in the scores.
I must say — maybe the Catholics know how to do it! Catholic schools have performed well for many, many years – maybe we need to hire a bishop for DCSS Superintendent!
Dunwoody Mom
September 15th, 2009
4:37 pm
DeKalb School of the Arts? Are you kidding me? This school gets to choose its students. What a pile of crock.
ScienceTeacher671
September 15th, 2009
6:06 pm
Catholic schools are also known for their strict discipline. Maybe there’s something to that…
George H.
September 15th, 2009
8:49 pm
Carter G. Woodson Elementary in Atlanta? They must be kidding. This is a joke, right? Like Beverly Hall being superintendent of the year. Who can really take any of these awards seriously?
TW
September 15th, 2009
9:03 pm
Real shame the citizens of GA will never value education enough to elect leadership worthy of our kids.
The schools up north make everything down here look like Pre-K, simply because they are willing to put their money where their mouth is.
But then, giving the electorate a real education would mean the death penalty for the GOP…
Ann T.
September 15th, 2009
9:13 pm
Thank you, Ms. Downey, for clarifying the requirements for your readers regarding the Blue Ribbon Awards. We should all be cheering, not jeering, those schools that have met these high standards. It is far easier these days to criticize and pick apart high achievers rather than emulate them. It’s a lesson we would all do well to follow. In your original article, you were especially helpful in providing the readers with links to DOE materials which spell out these high national standards. Keep up the good work!!!!
free market educator
September 16th, 2009
12:36 am
TW, could you please quantify your statement that, “The schools up north make everything down here look like Pre-K simply because they are willing to put their money where their mouth is.” What state? Which schools? Public, private, or Catholic? How much do they spend per pupil as compared to the average APS? In what specific ways are the Georgia schools inferior? Why do so many Northerners continue to move here? Traditionally, wealthier Southerners, with high performing students, have sent their children to private schools. How does their overall performance compare with the “up north” schools? If an entire underperforming class from Georgia were transferred to any school “up north”, would we see a guaranteed improvement? I hear comments like yours frequently and I am truly interested to know the “yanks” secret of success.
Lee the Taxpayer
September 17th, 2009
8:14 am
Go, Carter G. Woodson! There are about 100,000 schools in America. To be singled out with the DOE’s highest honor is an acheivement that no one can trivialize. Before any school can make the list, it’s scrutinized so that its accomplishment cannot be questioned by ignorance. Go, Carter G. Woodson Elementary, and congrats to the other Georgia blue ribbon schools.
therese persaud
September 20th, 2009
12:41 pm
AMAZING HOW SOME OF YOU ARE ENVIOUS OF THE ACHIEVEMENT OF DSA!!! HELL THIS IS AN ACHIEVEMENT, ‘DOG EAT DOG’ SELFISH , ‘ONLY THE RICH WHO WORK HARD PEOPLE DESERVE DECENT HEALTH CARE’ ORIENTED SOCIETY!! SO WHAT NOW? …THESE TEACHERS WORKED THEIR BUTTS OFF WITH NOT SO MANY HIGH SES STUDENTS!!! WHAT STOPPED THE AFFLUENT NORTH DEKALB SCHOOLS FROM ACHIEVING?
whitfield county schools | Random Hot News
September 22nd, 2009
8:36 am
[...] 72% – Dalton, GA 8% – Ringgold, GA 5% – Atlanta, GA State releases 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools | Get Schooled Sep 15, 2009 DeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb County – Hightower Trail Middle School, Cobb [...]
whitfield county schools – 海运女
September 22nd, 2009
9:38 am
[...] State releases 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools | Get SchooledDeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb County – Hightower Trail Middle School, Cobb County – Honey Creek Elementary School, Rockdale County – Trion High School, Trion City Schools – Tunnel Hill Elementary School, Whitfield County. Private …Get Schooled – http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/|||Whitfield County Schools students get a MAP to successWhitfield County Schools students get a MAP to successDaily CitizenStudents in grades 3-5 will begin using the software, called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), on Monday. The program measures students Share and Enjoy: [...]