Rachel Carson Elementary School Named Maryland Blue Ribbon School

Rachel Carson Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School by the Maryland State Department of Education for 2012, one of six in the state to be awarded the coveted title this year. The title is given to schools that have shown high performance or significant improvement in student achievement, and the schools must demonstrate high achievement over a five-year period.

The latest Blue Ribbon recipient school, which is in the Kentlands development of Gaithersburg, is one of the largest elementary schools in Montgomery County with nearly 900 students from pre-K to fifth grade.  Rachel Carson students come from the Kentlands and Lakelands communities as well as the Orchards, Orchard Knolls, Potomac Valley, and Governor’s Square Apartment.  Of the total student body, 11 percent require English language instruction, while 16 percent receive free or reduced price meals, and 9 percent have special educational needs.

“I am so proud of our students and staff and appreciate the unwavering support we receive from our parents and our community members,” said Principal Lawrence Chep following Tuesday’s announcement.

Students found out the good news in their classrooms, which took even the teachers by surprise.

“It was really cool,” said second grader Hana O’Looney. “We all screamed when we found out.”

Staff were quick to decorate the school’s main entrance with blue and yellow balloons, while the main sign up front also proudly declared Rachel Carson Elementary’s latest achievement. Wednesday was also designated a School Spirit Day, with the principal sending out a recorded message to all students the night before encouraging all students to wear the school colors of blue and yellow to celebrate.

Apart from the kudos, Rachel Carson Elementary School should also be receiving “substantial gifts and prizes” from sponsoring corporations, including a so-called technology classroom valued at over $13,000 from Smart Technologies, according to the Maryland State Department of Education.

The Gaithersburg school now qualifies to compete for the National Blue Ribbon School which will be announced by the U.S. Department of Education in September.  The last school from the county to be awarded the national prize was Highland Elementary School in 2009. There are currently 34 National Blue Ribbon schools in the county’s public school system.