School In West Hartford Named 'Blue Ribbon School'

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford elementary school Friday earned one of the most prestigious honors a public school can achieve.

Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker Friday congratulated four public schools in Connecticut — including Whiting Lane School in West Hartford — on being named by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

This award is given annually to select schools across the nation for demonstrating overall high achievement of success in closing achievement gaps, reads an announcement from Lamont's office.

In addition to Whiting Lane, the other Connecticut Blue Ribbon Schools are: Booth Hill School in Trumbull; E.O. Smith High School in Regional School District 19 (Ashford, Columbia, Coventry Eastford, Mansfield, Willington,and Windham); and Great Plain School in Danbury.

“Connecticut’s public schools are consistently rated among the best in the nation, and that is due to the teachers and staff who work in our school systems and provide a high level of learning that is helping our students achieve success throughout their future careers,” Lamont said.

“The ability to attract businesses and encourage them to expand and grow in our state is directly connected to the strength of our workforce and the quality of training that students receive, which is why it is critical that we provide the youngest in our communities with the tools needed to compete in today’s economy.”

“The Connecticut State Department of Education congratulates all of the schools named Blue Ribbon Schools in 2022,” Russell-Tucker said.

“We have made it a focus this year to highlight what’s right in schools, and our Blue Ribbon Award winners are prime examples of the many innovative practices underway in districts to ensure the continued growth and educational success of our students.”

The state State Department of Education uses data from the Next Generation Accountability System to nominate schools for the National Blue Ribbon School award.

Given the recent pause in accountability determinations, state officials said current recipients were nominated based on 2018-19 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 high performing and exemplary achievement gap closing.

State officials said Whiting Lane School earned its status via "exemplary achievement gap closing," which means significant academic improvement.

Whiting Lane School is one of 11 elementary schools in West Hartford enrolling about 375 students in Grades PK-5.

Approximately 25 percent of students are identified as students with disabilities, state officials said.

As a result, state officials said the school hosts a town-wide program for students with disabilities in pre-kindergarten, referred to as the Early Learning Center (ELC).

The program partners students with disabilities with their typical peers in a classroom that “promotes inclusion and an awareness and acceptance of differences.”

These early experiences shape students’ perspectives and create an inclusive environment that permeates the school up to and through Grade 5, state officials said in the announcement.

Whiting Lane earned School of Distinction status for four consecutive years (2015-16 through 2018-19) based on strong academic growth.

In 2018-19, students demonstrated growth in the top 10 percent statewide for students overall and students with high needs in English language and mathematics.

For more information about the program, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program webpage at this link.

For Whiting Lane School's government 'report card,' click on this link.