Four Hudson Valley Schools Selected As National Blue Ribbon Winners

Four Hudson Valley schools have been named among 2016's National Blue Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday.

National Blue Ribbon Schools are an "inspiration and a model," the Department of Education said in announcing the selected schools.

U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., the former New York state education commissioner notorious for widely-despised standards and tests, sent a video message to honorees.

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are proof that we can prepare every child for college and meaningful careers, King said. "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."

Nationwide, 329 public and private elementary, middle and high schools were selected based on overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps, the Department of Education said.
Of the 329 schools selected, 279 are public and 50 are private. All schools, including the New York winners, will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 7 and 8.

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."

All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years.

Hudson Valley schools selected as 2016 National Blue Ribbon winners include:

• Blind Brook High School
• Haldane High School
• Nanuet Senior High School
• Todd Elementary School

By Kara Seymour (Patch National Staff). Patch Editor Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this report.