OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 7, 2012) – State Superintendent Janet Barresi on Friday announced six Oklahoma schools had been designated as Blue Ribbon Schools. The schools are among 269 national Blue Ribbon Schools.

“I want to offer my congratulations to the students, educators and parents at each of these schools who have put in so much work to achieve this designation,” Barresi said. “This is a sign that the students in these schools are truly being prepared for a future of college, career and citizenship. They are examples of excellence to the entire state.”

Blue Ribbon Schools are nominated in two categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools are ranked among a state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments; Exemplary Improving Schools are schools with at least 40 percent of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds that have reduced the achievement gaps by making the most progress in improving student performance on state assessments.

“The fact that we have elementary, middle and high schools on this list and schools from rural and urban communities shows that improvement can happen in every area,” Barresi said. 

The six schools were nominated by the State Department of Education in January, based on assessment data. The number of applicants in each state is determined by the number of schools and K-12 students. Once schools are nominated, they must be willing to go through an intensive application process with the national Blue Ribbon office. Blue Ribbon schools do not receive a monetary award but are recognized for effective teaching. 

The U.S. Department of Education will recognize the 219 public and 50 private schools at a ceremony Nov. 12-13 in Washington, D.C. In it’s 30-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on nearly 7,0000 of America’s schools.

For more information on Blue Ribbon Schools or to see a list of past winners, go to http://ok.gov/sde/no-child-left-behind-blue-ribbon-schools.