Forsyth County Elementary Selected As U.S. Blue Ribbon School

Cumming GA

22 September, 2021

8:01 AM

Description

CUMMING, GA — One Forsyth County school was honored as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday. The award recognizes a school's overall academic performance as well the commitment by staff to help students succeed. In all, 325 schools were named to the 2021 list. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has given approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. Included on this year's list is Johns Creek Elementary School, 6205 Old Atlanta Road in Suwanee. It was ranked in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category. There were nine schools from Georgia included in the 2021 list. They include: Bleckley County High School, CochranCrabapple Lane Elementary School, Peachtree CityElite Scholars Academy School, JonesboroFulton Science Academy Private School, AlpharettaHigh Shoals Elementary School, BishopJefferson Middle School, JeffersonOakhurst Elementary School, DecaturRiverview Elementary School, Dawsonville Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year, according to the Department of Education. Nominees are selected by top education officials in states and territories, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Blue Ribbon Schools are then selected based on their performance in one of two categories: Exemplary High-Performing Schools: These are among a state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools: These are among a state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between all other students and according to a school's student groups. Schools are also selected based on student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates. This year's nominees "illustrate what is possible" during tough times, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release. "I commend this school and all our Blue Ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs," Cardona said in the release. "In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children."