2 LBUSD Schools Win National Honor

Press release from the Long Beach Unified School District:

October 02, 2020

Tincher Preparatory Academy and Kettering Elementary School are among 367 schools recently named National Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“Congratulations to this year’s National Blue Ribbon School awardees,” said Secretary DeVos. “It’s a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students’ needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives.”

The U.S. Department of Education announcement notes that “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.”

The award is the first National Blue Ribbon honor for Tincher, a K-8 school, and for Kettering, though both schools are accustomed to state and national recognition. Tincher has been recognized multiple times as a School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle School Reform, and in 2011 Tincher hosted a visit by then U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Kettering has also been recognized as a California Distinguished School.

The Education Department plans to hold this year’s virtual recognition ceremony on Nov. 12 and 13.

This press release was produced by the Long Beach Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.