82 Oklahoma schools earn “Blue Ribbon” honors since 1982
By Sandy Garrett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Thursday, December 31, 2009

      Blue ribbons are not only bestowed at the State Fair for winning pies, livestock or best of show. They also signify the highest honor awarded to a public or private school by the U.S. Department of Education.
      In 2009, six Oklahoma public schools and one private school proudly joined the ranks of National Blue Ribbon Schools in Oklahoma, bringing the state’s total to 82 since 1982.
      In 2010, more schools can be added to this honorable list.  We challenge all Oklahoma schools to strive for excellence, honor and the distinction of being named as a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School.  
      The Blue Ribbon School program recognizes both public and private K-12 schools that have either excelled in academics or displayed dramatic gains in student achievement.
      Oklahoma’s newest National Blue Ribbon Schools are:
* West Junior High School, Moore Public Schools, Cleveland County 
* Wilson Elementary, Miami Public Schools, Ottawa County 
* Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa County 
* Cheyenne Middle School, Edmond Public Schools, Oklahoma County 
* Plainview High School, Plainview Public Schools, Carter County 
* Roosa Elementary, Claremore Public Schools, Rogers County 
* Rosary Catholic Elementary School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County.
      For a public school to be recognized under the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Program, a school must meet criteria in one of two areas:				
      (1) Have demonstrated dramatic gains in student achievement in the areas of reading and mathematics with at least 40 percent of their students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, and (2) are academically superior in their state by scoring in the top 10 percent on state reading and math exams at all grade levels assessed. Public schools must also achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in math and reading and/or language arts.
      Each September, each state's chief state school officer (CSSOs), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) are asked to nominate schools in their state for this honor.  Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). 
 	Each state is allowed to nominate a set number of K-12 public schools based on the state’s population.  Oklahoma can nominate six public schools.  CAPE can nominate up to 50 high-performing or dramatically improved private schools from around the nation.  
      After the first of the year, nominated schools are asked to submit a completed application to the U.S. Department of Education for review by a panel of experts for accuracy and eligibility. 
    	  At the end of summer, states must certify that the nominated public schools have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and, in late fall, the Secretary of Education announces the new Blue Ribbon Schools.
     	 The 2009 winning schools were honored this fall at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Each school received a plaque and a Blue Ribbon flag to fly at their school site.
      Oklahoma’s newest Blue Ribbon Schools deserve recognition for the hard work and commitment to excellence of teachers, students, parents and administrators.
      Congratulations to Oklahoma’s Blue Ribbon Schools!

       Read to a child – the benefits last a lifetime!
       




www.sde.state.ok.us


EDITORS: For more information, contact Shelly Hickman, State Department of Education, (405) 521-3371.