Vernon School Receives Blue Ribbon Status

VERNON, CT — Northeast School in Vernon has been chosen as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2020 by the U.S. Department of Education.

The annual awards program recognizes schools for their "overall academic excellence or their progress in closing the achievement gap."

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said Northeast is being recognized for closing the achievement gap, but has actually achieved both. Northeast has among the top 15 percent of all schools in the state over the past two years for "helping all students achieve at a high level."

Macary added, "Today we’re celebrating Northeast School’s national recognition, an honor that validates the hard work of dedicated teachers and staff during the past three years. We're especially proud of how parents and the community have worked with us to support students'
learning. This type of continuous and diligent collaboration helps our students thrive."

Northeast School was among 367 schools receiving the distinction.

"Connecticut’s public school teachers are the best in the United States, and the tools they are providing our youngest residents are enabling them to achieve success throughout their careers," Gov. Ned Lamont said. "Every child – no matter their family’s income or the neighborhood where they live – deserves access to a quality education that prepares them for achievement. We no doubt continue to have work to do to close persistent achievement gaps that have lingered far too long, but I firmly believe that the strong work of so many of our educators is having an impact. I congratulate these schools on earning this national distinction and wish them continued success."

Each year since the 2015-16 school year, the number of students at Northeast School meeting or exceeding grade level proficiency in English language arts and math has increased, Macary said.

For the 2015-16 school year, 56.9 percent of Northeast Students met or exceeded the standard in English language arts and 44.5 percent met or exceeded the standard in math. By the 2019-20 school year, the number of students meeting or exceeding the standard increased 22.8 percent in English language arts to 69.9 percent, and in math the number increased 44 percent to 64.1 percent of the students meeting or exceeding the standard.

The same level of progress has been demonstrated in Connecticut’s Next Generation Accountability results, which measures a school’s whole approach to teaching students.

In four of the last five years, Macary said, Northeast School’s score has been higher than the state average, and for the past two years, Northeast School was rated among the top 15 percent of schools in the state on that scale.

"The key to Northeast School’s success is we look at the kids individually," said Brenda Greene, who has been principal at Northeast School for the past nine years. "We ask, ‘What does this child need?’ We drill down and do whatever we can for the individual student. That child will be the best he or she can be."

Macary said that if the results can be achieved at Northeast School, they can be achieved at any school.

"If you have a quality teaching staff and focused interventions for students who are not on grade level, you are helping push the tide forward," he said. "That, along with a relevant curriculum is a formula for success. It’s a team effort – students, parents, teachers, administration, staff, everybody."

There is a simple but powerful mantra at Northeast School, "Work hard and Be Nice," Greene said.

Fifth-grader Caleb Asiedu, is currently attending Northeast School in-person two days a week in the hybrid program. He said he can’t wait to be back in school full time.

"Every day, I really just can’t wait to go to school because of all the great people here," he said. "This school goes beyond your level, but doesn’t make it hard for you. The teachers make it understandable."