"Blue Ribbon" Status Accorded To Elementary School In South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Four public schools in Connecticut have been designated as 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Philip R. Smith School in South Windsor is among those on that short list. This prestigious award is given annually to select schools across the nation for demonstrating overall high achievement or success in closing achievement gaps.

The Connecticut State Department of Education uses data from the Next Generation Accountability System to nominate schools for the National Blue Ribbon School (NBRS) award. Current recipients were nominated based on 2021-2022 accountability results.

Nominated schools must complete an application process and be approved by the U.S. Department of Education. All selected schools in Connecticut were designated as Schools of Distinction.

National Blue Ribbon Schools are identified in two categories: Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing and Exemplary High Performing. The Philip R. Smith School was recognized in the latter category.

According to information released by Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, Philip R. Smith School is a consistently high performing school serving 467 students in Grades K-5. This school earned 87.9 percent of all available accountability points in 2021-2022, leading to School of Distinction status in every category. While the school’s Accountability Index has been strong and stable over time, the 2021-2022 reports show the index being the highest earned since 2015-2016.

The school exceeds the subject performance index targets of 75 for the all students group in all subjects. At the same time, the academic growth in English language arts and mathematics demonstrated by students with high needs exceeds the growth reported for the all students group. Students with high needs are students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students from economically disadvantaged families. Accelerating academic growth for students with high needs is the key to narrowing achievement gaps.

The school reports in its NBRS application that its “strategy for excellence” is creating a schedule that protects the time needed to provide high quality Tier 1 instruction to all students. Through careful planning, they ensure that students who need extra support receive those services outside of the time reserved for initial instruction for all students. The teachers are able to provide this high-quality instruction because they are supported.

Staff have access to instructional coaching in reading and mathematics, while also benefiting from time reserved for grade-level professional learning communities (PLCs). In these PLCs, the teams review their units with embedded performance tasks to determine what they expect to see in student work and to prepare to support students who may struggle. Educators measure student success and adjust in real time for their students. Additionally, three times a year, all staff come together to review school level data and progress so as not to lose focus on whole-school success.

"Because of the amazing work of our outstanding teachers, administrators, and staff, Connecticut’s public schools are consistently rated among the best in the nation," Lamont said in a written statement. "Every child deserves access to a quality education that prepares them for success throughout their careers, no matter where they live or what their family’s economic circumstances may be. Our administration remains committed to strengthening all the schools in our state and making continued improvements on closing achievement gaps. I congratulate these four schools on earning this national distinction and I wish them continued success."

Russell-Tucker said, "The Connecticut State Department of Education congratulates all of the schools named Blue Ribbon Schools in 2023. We continue to make it our focus to highlight what’s right with schools, and our Blue Ribbon Award winners serve as an excellent example of the creative approaches being implemented to guarantee the ongoing advancement and academic achievements of our students."