Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary School has been honored as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recently announced Bainbridge Island’s Blakely as being one of 349 schools nationwide to earn the distinction.
The recognition was based on a school’s overall academic performance.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Blakely Elementary,” said District Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen.
“I am incredibly proud of the students and staff for their hard work and dedication,” he added. “I am always impressed with what Blakely accomplishes and this award validates the student-centered approach that Blakely has embraced for many years.”
The prestigious National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content, officials said.
All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. This is the category where Blakely was recognized.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years.
“We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives,” DeVos said in a video message to the honorees. “Congratulations on your students’ accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs.”
The Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with 300 public and 49 private school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 7-8.
Now in its 36th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,800 schools.
Blakely Elementary is the second public school on the island to receive the award. In 2004, Woodward Middle School received the top honor.
