September 16, 2003
Atlanta 9/16/03 - Six Georgia public schools today received the Blue Ribbons Schools Award, an honor given only to America's most successful schools. Among the 219 outstanding schools to receive national recognition for their efforts to raise student achievement are Dekalb County's Meadowview and Vanderlyn Elementary Schools (Principals Zandra Sherwood and Charlene Burger, respectively), Atlanta City's Morris Brandon Elementary School (Principal Karen Evans), Cobb County's Dickerson Middle School (Principal Melba Fugitt), Richmond County's Johnson Magnet School (Principal Dorothy Gandy), and Fulton County's Mountain Park Elementary School (Principal Aaron Moore). "These schools and their principals," State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox said, "are models of excellence for Georgians to follow as we work to end the achievement gap that too often divides our children into those who have the capacity to fulfill their dreams, and those who don't." The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbons Schools Program, established by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement while adhering to the core principals of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The program requires Blue Ribbon recipients to meet either of two assessment criteria: dramatic improvement of at least 40% of the school's disadvantaged students in state math and reading assessments (for which Meadowview Elementary was nominated), and overall student achievement in the top 10% statewide on reading and math assessments. Brandon Elementary, Dickerson Middle, Johnson Magnet School, Mountain Park Elementary, and Vanderlyn Elementary were nominated under the second criterion. "The President has made it a priority to ensure that no child is left behind, and we are working to make that goal a reality in Georgia," the Superintendent said. "The Blue Ribbon Schools have shown that we can end the ‘soft bigotry of low expectations' that has left too many students with an inferior education. They exemplify the philosophy that Governor Perdue and I share about education in Georgia: every child can learn, and every child will learn. No child in Georgia will be left behind. These schools have made that belief their consuming passion, and for that I commend them." Anne Hancock, Secretary Paige's Regional Representative for the U.S. Department of Education, was on hand yesterday at Johnson Magnet School in Augusta to make the announcement of that school's award. Congressman Max Burns and Principal Dr. Dorothy Gandy were also in attendance. State and local school officials will be honored during an awards ceremony with Secretary Paige in Washington at the end of October. More information on the 2003 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program is available here. Read original GADOE Article here. See Blue Ribbon Ceremony Pics here Return to Main Page.  |