The U.S. Department of Education has recognized North Kingstown High School as a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Award. This is our nation’s most prestigious award and is given in recognition of extraordinary student achievement. Since the program’s inception in 1982, four other North Kingstown public schools have been recognized: Davisville Middle School 1991, Forest Park Elementary School in 1995, Stony Lane Elementary School in 2013, Fishing Cove Elementary in 2017, and now NKHS! Go NK!
Congratulations to principal Dr. Barbara Morse, former principal and now Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Denise Mancieri, the NKHS faculty, staff, parents, and students. Your commitment to our students and to excellence is truly inspiring!
Furthermore, with this being a high school recognition, it is truly a reflection of the great commitment to excellence district wide, from Pre-K to 12. It takes a whole district effort to create a high performing high school. Thank you and congratulations to all of our NKSD employees and constituents who support NK schools!
Please see the official announcement from the U.S. Department of Education below. There will be a national ceremony in Washington D.C. in November to commemorate this achievement. We will soon announce plans for our own celebration in North Kingstown to take place shortly thereafter.
Press Release from the U.S. Department of Education:
U.S. Department of Education Announces 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today recognized 325 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2021. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona will make the announcement during his Return to School Road Trip, where he will visit an awardee school, Walter R. Sundling Jr. High School, in Palatine, Illinois.
“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” said Secretary Cardona. “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. In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have so much to offer and can serve as a model for other schools and communities so that we can truly build back better.”
The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.
The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
· Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
· Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon Schools nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.