Belmont's Daniel Butler School Named a 2016 Blue Ribbon School

BELMONT, MA – U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. announced the 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools on Wednesday, and Belmont's Daniel Butler School was among the 329 to be honored.

The award is based on schools' overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, according to a news release. Both public and private schools are eligible for Blue Ribbon distinction.

King addressed the honorees in a video message, saying:

National Blue Ribbon Schools are proof that we can prepare every child for college and meaningful careers. Your schools are on the cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices — professional learning communities, project-based learning, social and emotional learning, positive behavior systems — making you shining examples for your communities, your state and the nation.

In Massachusetts this year, three schools received recognition – Daniel Butler School, Merrymount Elementary School in Quincy and Morris Elementary in Lenox.

According to the Department of Education, the award "affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag gracing a school's building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning."

The 279 public and 50 private schools will be recognized at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 7 and 8.

The Department of Education recognizes schools in one of two performance categories – Exemplary High Performing or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. Daniel Butler School was honored as the former, meaning it is "among the state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests," according to the Department of Education.

Kara Seymour (Patch Staff) contributed to this report

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