Lee Elementary School in Manhattan is among six Kansas schools designated 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced on Monday.
The award is based on a school’s overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, according to the U. S. Department of Education in Washington D.C.
A total of 349 schools across the country were designated as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department of Education said. The other Kansas schools receiving he designation were Hillcrest Elementary School of Lawrence Unified School District 497, Magdalen Catholic School in Wichita, Marion Elementary School in Marion-Florence USD 408, Sterling Grade School in Sterling USD 376, and Valley Heights Elementary School, Valley Heights USD 498.
The Blue Ribbon program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools in of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.
In the high-performing category, schools are recognized for being among the state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students during the past five years.
All six Kansas schools are being recognized in the Exemplary High Performing category.
The U.S. Department of Education will formally recognize the schools at an awards ceremony November 7-8 in Washington D.C.