Pearls Hawthorne Named A National Blue Ribbon School

YONKERS, NY — Pearls Hawthorne School has been selected as one of just 353 schools across the nation named as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Blue Ribbon School recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.

Miguel Cardona, the secretary of education, said the schools set a "national example" for what it means to raise the bar in education.

"The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive schoolcultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, andemotionally," he said.

Schools that receive the honor share certain characteristics, the education department said. School leaders share their vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards. Additionally, the schools are effective, innovative, and value and support teachers and staff with professional learning. The schools also use data to drive instruction, and students strive for success.

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two categories, based on student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools: These are among the state’s highest performing schools, measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools: These are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

BMS earned recognition in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category. In its self-description on the winners' website, the school said:

The PEARLS Hawthorne School is a hub of innovation, where academically talented and students with Autism have an opportunity to excel. PEARLS is an acronym for Program for Early and Rapid Learners. PEARLS is a Pre-K to 8 school located in Yonkers, New York (the third largest city in the state of New York) and part of the Yonkers Public School District (the fourth largest school district in New York). Yonkers is a vibrant learning community of approximately 25,000 public school students from 100 cultures, backgrounds and nationalities. PEARLS is a thriving example of this diversity.

Students are provided with the opportunity to not only display their academic talents but also engage in a rich visual and performing arts program. Throughout the school year, students participate in a wide range of local and national academic competitions. Additionally, an integral part of our collaborative school culture is our engaged and committed families. The PEARLS PTA is a strong advocate and partner in many of our school-wide enrichment events.

The PEARLS teaching staff are certified in the area of Gifted and Talented and/or Special Education. Our school-wide enrichment and curriculum compacting, along with data-driven and research-based instruction have provided the pathways for student success. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the forefront of our mission to provide students with access to a learning environment that supports students' academic and social-emotional needs while preparing them for the demands of an ever-changing world.

We are united by our motto, "Soaring to New Heights."

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year for National Blue Ribbon recognition.

Nominated schools must complete an extensive narrative application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement.

The U.S. Education Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

This is the 40th year of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. About 10,000 awards have been handed out to more than 9,700 schools in that time.