District 109 Schools Win Blue Ribbon Award

DEERFIELD, IL - Two Deerfield District 109 schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education, Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld shared in an email to district parents on Wednesday.

Alan B. Shepard Middle School and Walden Elementary School were two of just 16 Illinois state winners this year. The winning schools in Illinois were selected from a field of nearly 4,500 public schools in the state.

According to Lubelfeld, Walden students demonstrated growth as a school in the 96th percentile for math and 97th percentile for reading on the Measures of Academic Progress assessments during the 2015-16 school year. Shepard students showed growth in the 98th percentile for both math and reading on MAP assessments.

The winning schools were first nominated by their state board of education, then had to submit "an incredibly detailed" application to the U.S. Department of Education, Lubelfeld said. Information about the school’s climate and culture, instruction and curriculum, assessments, professional development, leadership, and parent and community support were all necessary.

"At both Shepard and Walden, many staff members volunteered their time to work together to write the story of success for their schools," said Lubelfeld. "We are proud of our building administrators, teachers, students, parents, community, grandparents, and Board of Education for supporting the inspired shared vision of Engage, Inspire, Empower."

The isn't the first time District 109 schools have been honored this way. Shepard won the same award in 1984, 1985 and 2008. Wilmot won the Blue Ribbon in 1987 and 2008 and Caruso Middle School (then Wilmot Junior High) was a winner in 1983.