West Towson Elementary Named National Blue Ribbon School 2018

TOWSON, MD — West Towson Elementary School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018. The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that 349 schools across the country were winners of the prestigious award, including West Towson.

Now in its 36th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools that are "exemplary achievement gap closing" or "exemplary high performing."

West Towson Elementary was honored for being an exemplary high performing school, measured by state assessments or nationally standardized tests.

"I am so very proud of the students, teachers and families at West Towson," Principal Sue Hershfeld said in a statement. "The key to our success is the powerful sense of WTES teamwork and community. Families care deeply about the education that their children receive and support the work of the teachers. Dedicated teachers know their students well, build positive relationships, and work together to provide their students with rigorous and relevant instruction each day."

West Towson has improved consistently for the past three years on the PARCC tests, according to its National Blue Ribbon School application. Approximately 81.5 percent of students taking the reading test and 76.8 percent of students taking the math test met or exceeded expectations in 2017, school officials said.

"West Towson Elementary School opened eight years ago, and in less than a decade, has distinguished itself as a provider of high-quality, engaging instruction," Interim Superintendent Verletta White said in a statement. "Principal Sue Hershfeld and her team have created a positive culture and climate focused on equity and literacy in all subject areas."

An awards ceremony to honor Towson Elementary School and all 349 National Blue Ribbon Schools will take place from Nov. 7 to Nov. 8 in Washington, D.C.

These Maryland schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018:

• Bannockburn Elementary School in Bethesda
• Fallston Middle School in Fallston
• Harford Day School in Bel Air (nonpublic)
• Luxmanor Elementary School in Rockville
• Urbana Elementary School in Frederick
• Waterloo Elementary School in Columbia
• West Towson Elementary School in Towson

A total of 24 Baltimore County Public Schools have earned Maryland Blue Ribbons, and of those 21 have gone on to earn National Blue Ribbons.

These are the other National Blue Ribbon Schools in Baltimore County: Carroll Manor, Chadwick, Charlesmont, Middlesex, Pine Grove, Red House Run, Riderwood, Seventh District, Sparks, Summit Park, Timonium and Woodholme elementary schools; Dumbarton, Hereford and Ridgely middle schools; and Eastern Tech, George Washington Carver Center, Hereford, Towson and Western Tech high schools.

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