Little Flower School in Bethesda named Blue Ribbon School.
On September 9. 2008, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named 320 schools as 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools award distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.
For 2008, 50 private schools were selected nationwide as Blue Ribbon winners, and Little Flower was the only school from the Archdiocese of Washington to receive the honor.
Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl and the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Washington, Patricia Weitzel-O'Neill, were present at the ceremony.
About the Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students. The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices.
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement. Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds. To be named a Blue Ribbon School is to join an elite group. Of more than 138,000 in the United States, just over 6,000 of America's schools have received this honor over the past 28 years.
To be named a Blue Ribbon School is to join an elite group. Of more than 138,000 in the United States, just over 6,000 of America's schools have received this honor over the past 28 years.
Blue Ribbon Schools have always represented the full diversity of American education. They are urban, suburban, and rural, large and small, traditional and innovative. They serve students of every social, economic, and ethnic background. At the same time, they share a handful of qualities. Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence, they stay close to the real action of teaching and learning. Teachers, students, and administrators are all held to high standards. Data are used diligently to adapt teaching and learning to support every student. Mutual respect and trust run deep in their cultures.
For many schools, attaining the Blue Ribbon School award and recognition is a realization of a long-held dream. There is much excitement in the school community and the local media eagerly profiles schools that have attained the recognition. Blue Ribbon Schools are honored at a national awards ceremony in Washington, DC, where each receives a plaque and flag to signify its exemplary status. These schools serve as examples for other schools throughout the nation and details of their achievements are shared on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.