Five Acadiana schools are among ten Louisiana schools named 2020 National Blue Ribbon award recipients.
The U.S. Department of Education made the announcement on Thursday, September 24.
The schools represent seven parishes and include East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Natchitoches, Vermilion, St. Martin and St. Tammany parishes.
"This national honor speaks to the high expectations and student-first cultures you will find at all of these schools," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley in a press release. "I'm proud to have them represent Louisiana and congratulate them on this remarkable accomplishment."
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Education, honors high-performing schools or those who have narrowed achievement gaps, especially among minority or disadvantaged students, based on assessment data from Spring 2019.
Three Acadiana public schools were recognized as "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools." The state says that these are among the state's highest performing in narrowing achievement gaps between a school's student groups and all students.
The schools and parishes in which they are located include:
- Forked Island - E. Broussard Elementary School, Vermilion Parish
- Indian Bayou Elementary School, Vermilion Parish
- Stephensville Elementary School, St. Martin Parish
Erath High School in Vermilion Parish was one of three Louisiana public schools recognized as an "Exemplary High Performing School." LDOE says Erath High is among the state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches Parish and Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies in Jefferson Parish also received the recognition.
St. Thomas More also received the national honor by the U.S. Department of Education. The school was among four Louisiana nonpublic schools to be recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
Catholic High School and St. Jude Apostle School in East Baton Rouge Parish and Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic School in St. Tammany parish were also named.
Superintendent of Vermilion Parish Schools Tommy Byler said he's excited about the good news.
"I think we're going to continue doing what we do," he said. "We have 20 schools that are doing great things, but we're really, really proud of those three and we're hoping that we get an opportunity to have more nominated in the future."
The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13.
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