Lewisville ISD’s Donald Elementary will receive a 2006 No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Award, one of only 26 Texas public schools to receive the honor.

The award is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s No Child Left Behind program, which recognizes outstanding public and private schools that are either academically superior in their states or demonstrate dramatic and consistent gains in student achievement.

All schools must meet one of the two following criteria:

1. Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that show dramatic improvement in student performance on state tests over the past three years in reading or English language arts and mathematics; or

2. Schools whose students, regardless of demographics, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests in reading or English language arts and mathematics.

All Blue Ribbon Schools must also meet Adequate Yearly Progress in the previously mentioned subjects, not be named a “Persistently Dangerous” school within the last two years and be in compliance with other USDE requirements.

“Donald Elementary’s prestigious award is a shining example of what all Texas schools should strive to achieve,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jerry Roy said. “We are all proud of the students and staff at Donald Elementary who worked so hard to achieve this. It just confirms what we have always believed in — it is great to be a part of LISD.”

Donald Elementary Principal Cheryl Close is equally ecstatic about the announcement.

“Donald Elementary has served as a model of excellence in elementary education since the school was founded in 1989,” Close said. “It is such a good feeling that the efforts of our students, our staff and our parents have been recognized nationally.”

Donald received its recognition for the second of the two criteria — a pattern of exceptionally high achievement.

After the Texas Education Agency nominated Donald for consideration, the school completed an application that looked at each area that is an attribute of a school of excellence.

As part of the review process, school leaders provided statistical data showing TAKS passing percentages that ranged from 97 to 100. Schools honored with the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award are in the top 10 percent of all Texas schools for their reading and mathematics scores.

Under the guidelines of the program, Texas can nominate up to 26 public schools annually.

“These Blue Ribbon Schools are shining examples that, with hard work and dedication, all students can succeed,” Texas Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley announced today. “The Blue Ribbon Schools are just a few of the many schools in our state that are doing an outstanding job educating students and closing the gap. We are delighted that every single Texas school nominated for this award won it.”
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and the Department of Education will honor the Blue Ribbon School recipients and highlight their achievements at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 9-10. The award recipients will be recognized as national models of excellence.