Lynn Kaniper
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that Saint Ann School was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2010 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Saint Ann School will be honored at a formal ceremony at Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC on November 15 and 16. The No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon School Program honors public and private K-12 schools for their academic excellence and ability to help students achieve at very high levels.
Saint Ann School is the only Catholic school in Mercer County to obtain Blue Ribbon status, as well as the only one in the Trenton Diocese in over 20 years. Of the total schools nominated for the program nationwide, only 314 schools were awarded the Blue Ribbon, and only 50 of them are from the private sector. To qualify, public schools must rank in the top ten percent of the state, while private schools must rank in the top ten percent of the nation.
Consistently scoring in the top ten percentile on national Terra Nova standardized testing, Saint Ann School met and exceeded the requirements for Blue Ribbon eligibility.
"This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students, faculty and staff,” said Jack McKenna, Principal, who will be attending the national ceremony in November. “At Saint Ann School, we are constantly striving to ensure that the academic program we deliver meets the needs of our students, while encouraging them to do their best.”
Saint Ann School has been an integral part of the Trenton Diocese since 1964. Saint Ann students thrive in a faith-filled environment that fosters the development of exemplary Christian leaders for the future. Through collaboration amongst the faculty, parents and other professionals, the school seeks to challenge and support a diversity of learning styles and needs and to nurture a spiritual, intellectual, physical, social and emotional wholeness in its students.
"All of us here at school recognize that this award would not have been possible without the dedication and support of the entire school community. We thank our school parents who recognize the importance of growth and change as being necessary for educational excellence. We thank our students who work tirelessly each and every day to reach their full potential. And, most of all, we thank the faculty and staff. Without these dedicated men and women, this award would not have been possible. They are a group of professionals who are constantly striving to learn and improve. They are committed to the spiritual and academic growth of our students, and they believe strongly in providing each and every one with a quality, faith-filled education."
Nomination & Eligibility
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.
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. The schools are selected based on one of two criteria:
1. Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests
2. Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or, in the case of private schools, in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally normed tests
Under No Child Left Behind, schools must make Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, in reading (language arts) and mathematics. Each state—not the federal government—sets its own academic standards and benchmark goals.
The total number of nominees nationwide is determined based on the number of K-12 students and the number of schools in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Chief State School Officer (CSSO) nominates public schools, and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) submits private schools’ nominations. The schools are invited by the U.S. Department of Education Secretary to submit an application for possible recognition as a No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon School.
Award Selection
To be selected for this prestigious award, a school must have a clear vision and shared sense of mission, a challenging and up-to-date curriculum, policies and practices to ensure a safe campus conducive to learning, evidence of family involvement, a commitment to helping all students achieve high standards and high sustained test scores.
Schools selected for recognition prepare an extensive written nomination package representing a thorough self-examination. The process involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the school and developing improvement plans for the future. When evaluating nominations, the Department of Education looks for overall school quality, including challenging standards and curriculum, excellent teaching, ongoing professional development by teachers and staff members, a safe and supportive school environment, family and community partnerships that contribute to school quality and high or improving student performance on measure of achievement.
