​MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org

PROGRAM CONTACT: Keisha Ford-Jenrette, GaDOE Recognitions Manager, (404) 657-2949, kford@gadoe.org

-Follow DOE on Twitter,  Facebook, and Instagram

September 28, 2016 – Seven Georgia public schools and three private schools were named 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools today.

The following public schools received the recognition: Morningside Elementary (Atlanta Public Schools), Mount Bethel Elementary (Cobb County Schools), Sharon Elementary (Forsyth County Schools) Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (Gwinnett County Schools), Newton County Theme School at Ficquett (Newton County Schools), Midway Elementary (Pierce County Schools) and Jacob G. Smith Elementary (Savannah-Chatham County Schools).

Three Georgia private schools, Calvary Day School in Savannah, St. Joseph Catholic School in Marietta and St. Thomas More Catholic School in Decatur, were also named National Blue Ribbon Schools. The selection process for private schools differs from the public-school selection process; for more information, click here.

Blue Ribbon Schools are recognized in two performance categories (see the full criteria descriptions here):

·    Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.

·    Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.

“These Georgia schools are to be commended for their outstanding student performance,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “They are doing an excellent job making sure all students are ready to learn, ready to live, and ready to lead. To every one of the teachers and leaders in these schools – thank you for the incredible work you’re doing on behalf of the children of our state.”

The U.S. Department of Education will honor 279 public and 50 private schools with the Blue Ribbon designation at a recognition ceremony Nov. 7-8 in Washington, D.C. In its 34-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 8,000 of America’s schools.