This is the second year in a row the school has achieved this honor.
Frederick, Md (KM). Centerville Elementary School has made the grade once again. It’s one of six public schools in Maryland to be named a Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education for the second year in a row.
“We are so excited to receive this news,” says Dr. Theresa Alban, Superintendent of Schools for Frederick County. “Centerville is an exemplary school. The school’s administrators, teachers, staff, students and families have truly created an outstanding environment for learning. Centerville couples awesome academic achievement with superior community engagement. That is an award-winning formula for success.”
The other Maryland public schools to achieve this honor are Shipley’s Choice Elementary School in Anne Arundel County, Sunderland Elementary School in Calvert County, Manor Woods Elementary School in Howard County, and Ronald McNair Elementary School and Farmland Elementary School The final two are located in Montgomery County.
“These are sort of our exemplary schools that we like to spotlight,” says Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for the Maryland State Department of Education. “This is where great instruction goes on for all kids.”
He says these schools are nominated on the state level based on high academic achievement by their students, and significant improvement in closing achievement gaps among disadvantaged students and minority students. “Many of them are not only great schools, but they do terrific work with low income students, students that might come from other circumstances which make it difficult for them to achieve,” says Reinhard.
The US Department of Education, since 1982, has sought out schools where students attain and keep high academic goals, including some which have beat the odds to become excellent schools.
But Reinhard says it’s more than just academics. “Centerville {Elementary School} has done a lot of work within the community. They’ve raised money for the American Heart Association. They have a number of clubs for students to be involved. It’s an exemplary school and we’re so proud of it,” he says.
This is also the second year in a row that Centerville Elementary School and other schools on the list for 2017 have won the Blue Ribbon honor. “That’s actually happened a lot over the years with Maryland,” says Reinhard. “We’ve been working on these programs for a number of years.
A number of other Frederick County public schools have won Blue Ribbon honors in the past: Kemptown Elementary in 2015; New Market Elementary in 2010; Windsor Knolls Middle in 2002; Middletown Middle School in 1998; Yellow Springs Elementary in 1994; Frederick High and Linganore High in 1993; Governor Thomas Johnson High in 1991; Middletown Elementary in 1990; and Middletown High in 1987.
The 2017 winners will receive their national honors on November 6th and 7th in Washington DC, where Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will congratulate the recipients.
By Kevin McManus