2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools
MEDIA RELEASE September 28, 2016
Gadsden’s Eura Brown Elementary School Named
2016 Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. announced today the Department of Education’s list of schools from across the nation that have been designated as 2016 Blue Ribbon School. Among those announced was Gadsden’s own Eura Brown Elementary School. Eura Brown is one among 279 public and 50 private schools receiving this honor.
Gadsden City School officials joined Eura Brown teachers and students in a 1 p.m. assembly to hear Secretary King make the official announcement via Youtube.
Every year, the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools. Through The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the department recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Five schools in Alabama were recognized this year.
Schools are nominated for the award by the state department of education, and then complete a comprehensive application about school practices. Schools may apply for status as Exemplary High Performing—among the top schools in a state—or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing—schools making the fastest progress in the their state in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
Eura Brown was awarded Exemplary High Performing status.
“This is an enormous honor for the Eura Brown family,” said Priscilla Yother, principal of Eura Brown for the past 16 years. “Our teachers, parents and students know that we have an extremely special school that is dedicated to seeing students reach their full potential. For the Department of Education to designate us a Blue Ribbon School validates the wonderful job our educators do.”
Eura Brown is one of eight elementary schools in the Gadsden City Schools system. Approximately 350 kindergarten through fifth grade students attend Eura Brown.
Dr. Ed Miller, superintendent of Gadsden City Schools, said, “To be named among this extremely high caliber list of schools nationwide is a tremendous accomplishment. Everyone in the city of Gadsden can be proud to say that we are home to a 2016 Blue Ribbon School.”
According to the Department of Education’s website, the National Blue Ribbon School 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 School flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
