High Tech High School Recognized as National Blue Ribbon School
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has recognized High Tech High School as one of 286 schools designated as National Blue Ribbon Schools, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.
The Department of Education will honor the schools at a recognition ceremony on November 18-19 in Washington, D.C. In its 31-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this award on nearly 7,500 of America’s schools.
“Excellence in education matters and we should honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare students for success in college and careers,” declared Secretary Duncan. “National Blue Ribbon schools represent educational excellence, and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education.”
The Blue Ribbon program recognizes schools in either of two performance categories: “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools rank among their state’s highest performing schools (measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests), and “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least forty percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels (measured by the same standards as above).
To select National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department of Education requests nominations from the highest-ranking education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The Secretary of Education then invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.