Fountain Green Elementary Named Maryland Blue Ribbon School

The Maryland State Department of Education recently named Fountain Green Elementary in Bel Air a 2015 Maryland Blue Ribbon School.

The state selected six Maryland schools for the honor, which is bestowed upon those that demonstrate “high levels of achievement” on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) over a five-year period, according to the Maryland State Department of Education.

More than 95.4 percent of students at Fountain Green scored as “proficient” or “advanced” on the MSA math test, and 96.9 percent were “proficient” or “advanced” in reading, according to a statement from Harford County Public Schools. In addition to academic achievement, Fountain Green fosters creativity through activities such as the school musical and LEGO Club, the statement said.

“We are extremely proud of our students for this accomplishment and equally as proud of our staff for their dedication to the success of our school,” Fountain Green Elementary Principal Alison Donnelly said.

Donnelly said that she ran through the hallways of Fountain Green Elementary School with the school’s new “Blue Ribbon” flag on Dec. 10 when the honor was announced. “...all the students cheered,” Donnelly reported. “Today will be a day to remember for our school and community.”

Each Maryland Blue Ribbon School receives a Maryland Blue Ribbon Flag; $1,000 in office supplies; interactive technology equipment; a monetary prize; an audio sound system; and a school pizza party, according to the state department of education, which said the schools are invited by the U.S. Department of Education to apply to be National Blue Ribbon Schools; those are selected in September 2015.

Fountain Green Elementary is the first Harford school to achieve Maryland Blue Ribbon status in the past three years. Past honorees include the following, according to Harford County Public Schools:

• Ring Factory Elementary—Maryland Blue Ribbon School, National Blue Ribbon School; 2012
• Bel Air Middle—Maryland Blue Ribbon and National Blue Ribbon School; 2000
• Joppatowne High—Maryland Blue Ribbon School; 2000
• North Harford Middle—Maryland Blue Ribbon School and National Blue Ribbon School; 1996
• Jarrettsville Elementary—Maryland Blue Ribbon School; 1992
• Havre de Grace High School—Maryland Blue Ribbon School and National Blue Ribbon School; 1990

Fountain Green Elementary will be honored with other 2015 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools at a dinner attended by state officials in Annapolis on March 9, 2015.

Other 2015 schools to achieve Maryland Blue Ribbon status were Lake Shore Elementary in Pasadena, Severna Park Elementary in Severna Park, Pine Grove Elementary in Parkville, Kemptown Elementary in Monrovia and Smithsburg Elementary in Smithsburg, according to the Maryland State Department of Education.

Photo Credit: Harford County Public Schools.