El Morro Earns National Blue Ribbon School Designation
U.S. Secretary of Education names El Morro Elementary School 2019 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School
Laguna Beach Unified School District, Sept 26, 2019, Media Release
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – The U.S. Department of Education announced today that El Morro Elementary School is among the 362 schools recognized nationwide as 2019 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools award honorees. El Morro is one of thirty schools from California to be recognized.
Now in its 37th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
“We are excited and honored to be recognized as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School. It validates the hard work and care that the El Morro staff provides for our students,” said El Morro Elementary School Principal Chris Duddy. “There is a lot of hard work done on behalf of our students each and every day. This recognition confirms that we are doing the right things,” he concluded.
Every year, the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve high levels. More than 9,000 schools across the country have been presented with this award.
“Our district mission is to ensure that each student gains the skills to become lifelong learners in a competitive and interconnected world,” said Dr. Jason Viloria, Superintendent of Schools. “We focus on a strength-based approach to teaching that builds resiliency and prepares students to thrive despite the hardships they may face. Students, teachers, staff, and families are immersed in a strengths culture with a common language that supports students in the realization of their full potential. I’d like to congratulate our team at El Morro on this outstanding recognition of their hard work,” he concluded.
The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.
The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup 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 Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with 312 public and 50 non-public school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. on November 14 and 15. Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available for a closer look at each of the honorees.
