Related Press Release Paige Announces First List of No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools

Education Secretary Rod Paige today named 19 more schools in nine states as 2003 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon Schools. The schools announced today were not among the first list of 214 schools announced on September 17 because the department was waiting for additional information on their adequate yearly progress.

This additional information is required under the new program, which recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels.

The schools are selected based on either of two assessment criteria:

• Schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to a high level on state assessment or assessments referenced against national norms at a particular grade, as determined by the state's Chief State School Officer (CCSO); and,

• Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests.

Of the schools submitted by each state, at least one-third must meet the criterion of having 40 percent of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds and showing dramatic improvement.

Every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Department of Defense Education Agency has an assigned number of possible schools based on the number of students and the number of schools in the state. The state's CCSO nominates public schools and the Council for American Private education (CAPE) nominates private schools. Once the secretary has the nominations from the CCSO and CAPE, the secretary invites the nominated schools to submit applications for possible recognition as a No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon School.

"I am delighted to congratulate the principals, teachers, parents, and students of the 2003 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon Schools," Paige said. "These schools are national models of excellence that others can learn from and are meeting President Bush's mission to ensure that every child learns, and no child is left behind."

The 2003 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at an awards ceremony with Secretary Paige in Washington, D.C., October 30-31.

Further information on the program and a list of current winners can be accessed at http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html.

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2003 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Chosen Schools

Montemalaga Elementary School
Ms. Patricia Stewart
Principal
1121 Via Nogales
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274-1671
Ph: (310) 378-5228

T. C. Cherry Elementary School
Mrs. Susan McCloud
Principal
1001 Liberty Way
Bowling Green, KY 42104-3112
Ph: (270) 746-2230

Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Ms. Nanette Greer
Principal
2825 Government Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-5412
Ph: (225) 383-0520

Benjamin Franklin High School
Ms. Carol Christen
Principal
2001 Leon C. Simon Drive
New Orleans, LA 70122-3524
Ph: (504) 286-2600

Morse Elementary School
Dr. Gibson Miller
Principal
200 Wisconsin Street
P.O. Box 247
Morse, LA 70559-0247
Ph: (337) 783-5391

Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting P.S.A. School
Mr. Nick Oshelski
Principal
1301 Marquette Avenue
Sault Saint Marie, MI 49783-9533
Ph: (906) 635-5055

Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
Mr. Richard Kuder
Principal
344 Calvin Court
Wyckoff, NJ 07481-1998
Ph: (201) 848-5750

Edward T. Hamilton School
Mrs. Kristine diCoio
Principal
23 Northgate Drive
Voorhees, NJ 08043-4803
Ph: (856) 767-4888

High Technology High School
Mr. Daniel Simon
Principal
765 Newman Springs Road
P.O. Box 119
Lincroft, NJ 07738-0119
Ph: (732) 842-8444

Pleasant Valley School
Mr. Thomas Schulte
Principal
401 Cedar Road
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062-2507
Ph: (856) 223-5120

Robert Seaman Elementary School
Mr. Jeffery Ratner
Principal
137 Leahy Street
Jericho, NY 11753-1697
Ph: (516) 681-9419

Calumet School
Mr. W. Richard Gleave
Principal
P.O. Box 10
Calumet, OK 73014-0010
Ph: (405) 893-2410

Classen School of Advanced Studies
Dr. Ronald Maxfield
Principal
1901 North Ellison Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73106-4251
Ph: (405) 556-5070

Deer Creek Prairie Vale Elementary School
Mrs. Toni Jones
Principal
22522 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Edmond, OK 73003-9100
Ph: (405) 359-3170

Tupelo Elementary School
Mrs. Rebeccah Green
Principal
310 High School Street
P.O. Box 239
Tupelo, OK 74572-0239
Ph: (580) 845-2802

Forestbrook Elementary School
Mr. Johnny Calder
Principal
4000 Panther Parkway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588-8402
Ph: (843) 236-8100

Irmo High School
Mr. Gerald Witt
Principal
6671 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, SC 29212-2198
Ph: (803) 732-8100

Mt. Pleasant Academy Elementary School
Mrs. Jane Davis
Principal
605 Center Street
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464-4901
Ph: (843) 849-2826

Steekee Elementary School
Ms. Betty Wright
Principal
4500 Steekee School Road
Loudon, TN 37774-3731
Ph: (865) 458-3322

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