15 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, INDIANA, NEW JERSEY, OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA
HONORED WITH NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON AWARD
Washington, DC - Fifteen public charter schools in nine states have been honored as No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools announced today.
“Given the freedom to innovate and under a contract that holds them accountable for results, public charter schools are making a difference in students’ lives - not just in these 15 schools, but all around the country,” said National Alliance for Public Charter Schools President and CEO Nelson Smith. “We’re delighted to see so many charters among those awarded the Blue Ribbon distinction and we offer our most heartfelt congratulations to them for this honor.”
The 15 public charter schools earning the 2008 Blue Ribbon Award (by state) are:
Arizona
The Academy of Math and Science, Tucson
Masada Charter School, Centennial Park
Tempe Preparatory Academy, Tempe
Arkansas
KIPP Delta College, Helena
California
Elise P. Buckingham Charter Magnet High School, Vacaville
Oakland Charter Academy, Oakland
Pacific Collegiate High School, Santa Cruz
Florida
Renaissance Charter Elementary, Miami
The Charter School of Excellence, Ft. Lauderdale
Georgia
Futral Road Elementary Charter School, Griffin
Indiana
Signature School, Evansville
New Jersey
Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton, Clifton
Robert Treat Academy Charter School, Newark
Ohio
Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo
Pennsylvania
Manchester Academic Charter School, Pittsburgh
The award recognizes public and private schools that either earn significant gains in student achievement or demonstrate academic superiority. Nominated schools are subjected to an in-depth evaluation process by a panel of state education experts. A second national review panel then recommends honorees to the U.S. Secretary of Education, who makes the final selections. The 15 public charter schools were among 320 public and private schools nationally that received the Blue Ribbon Award.
Public charter schools exist in 40 states and the District of Columbia and serve 1.3 million students or approximately 3% of all public school students. Consequently, the 15 schools honored comprise a higher-than-average representation for public charter schools earning the award.
The schools will be honored at a special ceremony at the U.S. Department of Education on October 20-21 in Washington, DC.
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