Explore the National Blue Ribbon Schools’ library of videos, podcasts, and written descriptions that showcase stand-out practices and school features that contribute to awardees’ success. Choose practice topics under the key areas and/or select a grade level of interest to display these resources.
We urge you to contact these and other National Blue Ribbon Schools to learn what great American schools are doing.
Written profiles of schools visited before 2009 appear on the USDE website.
Grade Level
Curriculum and Instruction
Student Supports
School Supports
In New Orleans, Louisiana, Lusher Charter School serves students in grades K-12 by integrating the arts across all grade levels and disciplines. As the school’s CEO puts it, “Lusher is a school where a student can come and thrive regardless of the level of their talents. We’ll use the arts when we’re happy, when we’re Read More
Teachers at Paramount School of Excellence (now called Paramount Brookside) in Indianapolis, Indiana enrich their lessons using a variety of on-site school features, including a planetarium, farm, and beehives. These unique features help students learn from the world around them. However, the key focus for educators at this K-8 charter school is on providing high-quality Read More
High school goes to college at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School, which shares a campus and a vision for success with its partner institution, Lorenzo Walker Technical College. Students travel from all over the county to attend Lorenzo Walker, where they take academically rigorous classes while also receiving professional training in 25 career programs. After Read More
Turning around a low-performing school is no easy task – and sustaining that turnaround over the years to come can be just as challenging. In this video, teachers and school leaders from Evergreen Elementary School in Spanaway, Washington explain how the implementation of a “No Excuses” model helped them improve and sustain their success over Read More
Village Oaks Elementary School Novi, Michigan Building School Culture by Leading with HEART. One of the most challenging tasks for any new principal is creating school culture, particularly when a strong culture already exists. This podcast walks you through the process Principal Alexander Ofili used at Village Oaks Elementary School in Novi, MI, to do Read More
Mount Lebanon Elementary School Pendleton, SC Learning Through Real World Application highlights how one school expanded on a STEM theme to create a teaching and learning culture matched to the way young students learn. When each of the four K-6th grade elementary schools in Anderson County School District 4 were tasked with creating a unique Read More
Athens Academy (Athens, GA). Athens Academy is an educational community where the students, the school, and the parents are partners. The school’s Parent Service Organization (PSO) works with administration to enhance the school’s quality of programs and academic life. Each of the four academy divisions have representatives on the PSO Executive Board. Over 100 parents Read More
Saint Francis Xavier School (Wilmette, IL). In 2013, Saint Frances Xavier developed its EPIC framework to promote students and teachers’ Exploration, Play, Invention, and Creativity. The EPIC themes provide scope and purpose so that faculty make connections between the school’s mission, curriculum, and the engagement of all students. The EPIC Studio, home to technologies and out-of-the-box Read More
Mountain Brook Elementary School (Mountain Brook, AL). As a Lighthouse School, Mountain Brook Elementary has developed a well-rounded leadership model. Every student and teacher employ a leadership role, self-selects and tracks goals, and maintains a leadership portfolio highlighting personal accomplishments and academic achievements. Students promote the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People through leading by Read More
Waterloo Elementary School (Columbia, MD). Waterloo Elementary School’s social studies curriculum actively engages students by interacting with a variety of resources and demonstrating learnings through various performance-based assessments. The students explore a variety of social studies curriculum topics (e.g., Money Matters, Project Citizenship, Changing Communities, and Mapping Our World.) The culminating project occurs in 5th Read More
University of Hartford Magnet School (West Hartford, CT). University of Hartford Magnet School (UHMS) implements coaching rounds at each grade level. A week prior to the coaching round, the grade level team examines class data to determine a focus area. Then the Coach researches best practices to address the identified need and shares the plan Read More
Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville, TN). The Social Studies department of Hume-Fogg Academic (HFA) High School promotes literacy, communication, problem-solving, and the development of engaged citizens. All juniors must take Honors or AP United States History and all seniors take AP U.S. Government and AP Microeconomics. Additionally, students may select from electives (e.g., AP Comparative Read More
Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy (Forest Park, IL). The school’s administration believes in “Teacher Leadership in Exchange for Accountability.” A team of teachers worked with administration to develop a project to build teacher leadership capacity through three activities. The activities include: distributive leadership through the development of a School Leadership Team, introduction of grade level Read More
Steller Secondary School (Anchorage, AK). Steller Secondary School, a lottery-based magnet school (grades 7-12), emphasizes student responsibility to self and to the Steller community. Students, parents, and staff participate in the democratic process of setting school policy and procedures. Students play an integral role in planning school activities. Through the Passages Program and independent study Read More
Heck-Quaw Elementary School (Belgrade, MT). At Heck-Quaw Elementary, the school counseling curriculum consists of developmentally designed lessons for each grade level (K-4). The lessons focus students on achieving the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for social/emotional development, academic success, and college and career readiness (American School Counselor Association, 2014 Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: Read More
Mast Way Elementary School (Lee, NH). Mast Way’s exterior building has colorful mosaics created by students over the years. The mosaics include every color of the rainbow showcasing natural elements (e.g., butterflies, birds, trees, and flowers). Upon entering the building, the same whimsical student artistic expressions continue. Quickly, visitors will see crafted pieces of children’s Read More
College Park Elementary School (Greendale, WI). College Park Elementary values and encourages student leadership by inviting 4th and 5th grade students to serve on leadership teams. For example, the leadership teams of students review general behavior data, determine an area in need of improvement, and create a plan for improvement. In 2018, students focused on Read More
Lincoln Elementary School (Rexburg, ID). Lincoln Elementary emphasizes physical education, nutrition, and exercise/fitness of students every day. Every class participates in weekly P.E. where students build hand-eye coordination, concentration, body awareness, endurance, and strength. Through an initial grant from Fuel Up to Play 60, Lincoln implements a nutrition and fitness curriculum and activities. Within a Read More
Brighton High School (Rochester, NY). Over the past five years, Brighton High School’s graduation rates increased from 89% in 2013 to 96% in 2017. Graduation rates increased for African American students from 55% to 95%, for students in poverty from 78% to 97%, for students with special needs from 65% to 82%, and for Hispanic Read More
Cedar Lane Elementary School (Middletown, DE). Cedar Lane implements lesson studies that include grade-level teachers collaborating to create a single lesson to be used team-wide. After the creation of a lesson, a full grade-level of teachers participate in a fish bowl lesson study. This includes one teacher using the lesson with her students while colleagues Read More
Willow Creek Elementary School (Centennial, CO). To promote a positive school climate and growth mindsets, Willow Creek focuses on POWER which stands for Persistence, Optimism, We are Flexible, Empathy, and Resilience. The school designates 10-15 minutes daily as POWER Time for activities that teach students a growth mindset and appropriate school behaviors using a common Read More
Heards Ferry Elementary School (Sandy Springs, GA). Heards Ferry Elementary School integrates Fulton County Public Schools’ seven Principles of Personalized Learning. The first principle is “Choice and Voice” where students can express their learning styles and preferences as learners in a lesson. Second, students have more than one way or modality to learn the material Read More
West Shore Junior/Senior High School (Melbourne, FL). To meet increasing college and career readiness requirements, West Shore offers students a Diploma of Distinction. To earn this diploma, a student must complete 28 credits (beyond state requirements); 25 hours of service learning each year; demonstrate leadership experience through clubs, sports, or activities; and receive at least Read More
Chenango Forks High School (Binghamton, NY). Chenango Forks High School opened its new STEAM Academy in January 2018. The Academy offers individualized pathways that address students’ diverse career interests, learning styles, and schedule. The Academy partners with several colleges/universities to offer Advanced Placement and career opportunities, including Spanish for the Professions, Residential Construction, Early Childhood Read More
Sierra Expeditionary Learning School Truckee, CA In 2008, in a small town in northern California, a dozen or so parents of preschoolers started dreaming about a different kind of elementary school and chartered SELS—the Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, in Truckee, California in March 2010. This podcast features Kim Bradley, a founding parent and current board Read More
Hearts and Minds features Pinewood Elementary School in Jenison, MI, a suburb of Grand Rapids, where teachers and staff found themselves dealing with extreme student behaviors that disrupted learning. When Principal Rachael Postle-Brown and her staff adopted a “Whole School” approach to supporting positive student behaviors, a host of benefits followed. The approach has Read More
University Academy—Upper School Kansas City, MO University Academy Upper School is a 9-12 high school located in Kansas City, Missouri and is on a mission to prepare students, not only for college admission, but also for college success. With a high school graduation rate of 100%, this mission-focused public charter high school located in an Read More
Teaching with Art and Heart highlights the resources a dedicated principal has secured for the 700-plus students in her rural South Carolina school, Skyland Elementary. For more than two decades, Dr. Carolyn Styles has created a thriving community of passionate educators and young scholars. In addition to identifying and remediating students’ educational gaps and Read More
Still Making the Grade showcases the Brooklyn (NY) School for Global Scholars, P.S. 748. Originally designed as a district-based application school for gifted and talented students, P.S. 748 featured a self-created and evolving curriculum that used project-based learning and departmentalized, interdisciplinary learning to prepare global citizens for the future. It opened in 2010. Two Read More
Game Changer tells the story of struggling White Street School in Springfield, MA, where “demographics” had been the steady explanation for low student achievement. Families were reluctant to send their children to a school were only 4% of fifth graders scored Proficient in any subject. In 2010, the State Education Department had singled the school Read More
Massapequa High School (Massapequa, NY). Massapequa High School encourages staff members to learn from one another. For instance, currently the teachers participate in a “Pineapple Chart” process where they open-up their classrooms, announce lesson subjects via a posting board, and welcome colleagues to visit. These activities impact students as they witness staff professional growth efforts, Read More
Fishing Cove Elementary School (North Kingstown, RI). At Fishing Cove, professional development addresses student behavior, both inside and outside of school. Two years ago, the school dedicated a large amount of professional development funds to train every teacher, teacher assistant, and all specialist educators in Open Circle. This training increased the school’s capacity to support Read More
Grove Valley Elementary (Edmond, OK). As the lowest in General Fund funding of any school district in Oklahoma, Grove Valley must be very creative and purposeful when it comes to professional development. Each week, the faculty meets for Late Start Wednesday – a district-designated one-hour time slot. During this time, teachers participate in Professional Learning Read More
Riverwatch Middle School (Suwanee, GA). Each school year, the Riverwatch Professional Development Plan supports goals outlined by the School Improvement Plan. The goals are based on a variety of data points, including standardized test scores, College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) ratings, Student Health Surveys, and Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) ratings. From this Read More
Don Roberts Elementary School (Little Rock, AR). The Don Roberts Elementary School is home to an award winning Environmental and Spatial Technology (E.A.S.T.) Lab. The EAST Lab provides professional-grade technology for students to learn to solve problems creatively in their communities. Students have access to state-of-the-art software and equipment: drones, geospatial technology, 3D printers, graphics Read More
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School (Decatur, AL). At Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School, students not only have access to STEM in their classes, but each class visits the STEM lab weekly for forty-five minutes. In the STEM lab, students commonly work in teams to apply their knowledge by solving problems or conducting experiments. For example, Read More
AcadeMir Charter School West (Miami, FL). The mission of AcadeMir Charter School is to provide a challenging academic curriculum that includes an enriched STEM project-based learning program for students in grades K-5. AcadeMir extended the school day by 30 minutes so that students receive 60 minutes daily of mathematics instruction, 30 minutes daily of STEM Read More
Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School (ADOMHS) (Los Angeles, CA). ADOMHS has prioritized its partnership with parents by appointing a Parent Engagement Specialist to interact with and encourage parent participation on campus. The Parent Engagement Specialist hosts community events (such as the monthly Town Hall Meetings) and encourages parents to volunteer at school and attend Read More
Classical High School (Providence, RI). Teachers at Classical share a professional growth goal focused on increasing parent engagement. Every teacher sets specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time bound goals to improve engagement with families. The faculty utilizes many best practice suggestions, such as establishing set office hours, providing a course syllabus, and maintaining consistent communication. Read More
Maxine L. Silva Health Magnet High School (El Paso, TX). To emphasize the importance placed on family and community engagement, the campus provides funding for a part-time Parental Engagement Leader (PEL) position. The PEL designs programs that encourage parental and community involvement. Specific activities include: creating informational newsletters, conducting or scheduling parent meetings, coordinating volunteer Read More
Nolley Elementary School (Akron, OH). “I can see the leader in you!” is one of Nolley Elementary’s slogans to promote student leadership. Nolley’s school culture revolves around the Leader in Me program and the concepts and terminology of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Nolley displays student work exhibiting these habits, with inspiring quotes, and Read More
Chesterfield Elementary School (Chesterfield, MO). Chesterfield Elementary School uses the Leader in Me process to develop each student into a leader of his/her own learning. They encourage each student to identify their strengths and interests and become a leader. Students develop academic and behavior goals and then monitor their progress using a goal binder. Chesterfield’s Leader Read More
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School (SPCHS) (St. Petersburg, FL). SPCHS Leadership Program helps students develop leadership skills and gain important career and life skills (e.g., interviewing skills, ethical leadership). The leadership philosophy focuses on service, collaboration, and continual improvement. The program starts in the sophomore year and builds students’ foundational leadership skills. Juniors and seniors may Read More
Toll Gate Elementary School (Pickerington, OH). Toll Gate Elementary promotes and recognizes each student as a leader. The school’s Eight Great Traits includes the Seven Habits of Happy Kids and an eighth habit – find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. Students who demonstrate one or more of these traits daily receive leadership badges. Read More
Western Center Academy (WCA) (Hemet, CA). Given its location, WCA’s central goal is to integrate a “museum discovery” based approach with formal educational methods. The school is located on the site of the Western Science Center that has a large collection of Native American artifacts and Ice Age fossils. The Museum Discovery approach includes experiential, Read More
Paddock Road Elementary School (Omaha, NE). Paddock Road Elementary emphasizes personalized learning for all students. To increase student engagement and learning, the school focuses on getting to know students’ strengths, interests, skills, and abilities. Using that information, the school creates a variety of classroom, schoolwide, and after-school opportunities for student voice and choice. In the Read More
Hastings High School (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY). Hastings High School is committed to keeping the curriculum engaging and relevant for all its students. It offers rigorous academic courses as well as non-traditional electives. Hastings encourages teachers to develop half-year non-traditional electives focused on student and faculty interests while aligned with the state standards. These electives address a Read More
Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (Wilmington, CA). Challenge Los Angeles is a 7-week competition in which students from LAUSD high schools select an issue and develop solutions to complex problems facing their communities. HTPA students formed Harbor 4 Hunger, focusing on promoting healthy eating habits and free food resources. Students connect food donors with local charities running Read More
Doral Academy of Technology (Doral, FL). The seventh grade civics curriculum develops a student’s understanding of the foundations of our constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they were founded. Students participate in a Civic Political Fair, taking surveys to determine political scale awareness. DAT offers elective courses in law studies. Students learn Read More
John P. Woods Elementary School (Fort Smith, AR). Woods Elementary holds yearly student council officer elections. Students prepare campaign materials and present speeches before the student body votes using computer kiosks. After officers are elected, students in each class run for representatives, creating marketing materials and giving speeches. Throughout the year, the student council participates in Read More
About 12 years ago, following a careful analysis, The Cranbury School (Cranbury, NJ), began “The Math Shuffle.” Taking advantage of its K-8 structure, Cranbury leaders revamped the schedule so that every morning, middle school math teachers “push in” to math instruction classes in grades 3-5. During the Shuffle, students, and sometimes teachers, move around to Read More
The DSST (Denver School of Science and Technology) network, part of Denver Public Schools, was founded in 2005 to expand educational opportunities through open enrollment in STEM-focused schools. Green Valley Ranch High School opened in 2011 and has seen 100% of its seniors graduate and go on to college. Green Valley Ranch High School operates Read More
About five years ago, the community of Deerfield, Illinois, came together to anticipate the educational needs of future generations. Alan Shepard Middle School has led the way. First converting the junior high school to the more student-centered middle school model, leaders at Shepard then expanded students’ encore options (as distinct from core—math, ELA, science, and Read More
National Blue Ribbon School recognition propelled Elgin Middle School into the news–for all the right reasons. Read the transcript of Benefits of the Blue Ribbon Award. Read Elgin Middle School’s National Blue Ribbon Schools application. Contact Information Current Principal: Chris Garner Former Principal: Sammy Jackson (2003-2011) Elgin Middle School Highway 17 and Mighty Owl Avenue Elgin, OK Read More
The success of John Wash derives, in part, from grade-level Professional Learning Communities that use assessment results to guide instruction and intervention. Essential standards are assessed through summative, district-wide, and grade-level assessments administered three times a year as well as weekly, formative grade-level assessments created by each PLC. Teams share accountability for all students’ success Read More
Nikki Bowen and Meredith Anderson, the principals of Uncommon Schools Excellence Girls Charter School (Brooklyn, NY), are committed to changing history. Anderson, the middle school principal explains, “We know that all students can be successful, and that, in particular, girls can achieve.” In a nation that hasn’t traditionally held high expectations for girls, especially girls Read More
Deer Park Environmental Science Magnet Elementary School (Newport News, VA) seeks to develop engaged students who bring their learning to life through caring for the environment. Immersing students in critical STEM explorations both on campus and off, Deer Park is home to more than 50 animal habitats. Each classroom hosts at least one habitat, teaching Read More
Liberty Corner School (Liberty Corner, NJ). Trained parent volunteers, Literacy United Volunteers (LUV), help our Kindergartners navigate the initial stages of literacy. Volunteers are trained by our Reading Specialists in the Reading and Writing Workshop formats and in supporting at‐risk students to improve comprehension, word recognition, decoding and encoding, fluency, and apply reading strategies using Read More
Martin Petitjean Elementary School (Rayne, LA). Martin Petitjean Elementary (MPE) engages parents in three key ways. First, all homeroom teachers make home visits to meet their new students in August prior to school opening. This allows teachers to see firsthand where each student lives and sends the message to parents that the MPE teachers care enough Read More
The School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass (SCAPA at Bluegrass) (Lexington, KY). Administration and school staff welcome and actively seek parent relationships. SCAPA has an active School Based Decision Making Council (SBDM) that opens leadership and committee positions for parents and teachers to make positive contributions to our school, such as decisions regarding school Read More
KIPP STRIVE Academy (Atlanta, GA). Parents and guardians at KIPP STRIVE Academy are held to high expectations. They are expected to check their child’s homework each night and attend parent meetings and conferences. Parents are also invited to attend academic workshops and contribute to the school by volunteering their time when possible. To further increase parent Read More
Center City PCS Congress Heights Campus (Washington, DC). Center City is committed to professional development of its staff and leaders. We provide extensive professional development opportunities, including workshops, professional learning communities, and coaching to improve the quality of instruction. Center City PCS Pre-Service August 10 – 28: Four days of these three weeks were district-wide dates Read More
Chapel Hill Elementary School (Gladstone, MO). The development of lifelong learners at Chapel Hill applies not only to our students but also to our staff. Teachers participate in district-provided monthly PD modules to refine instruction and ensure fidelity to district expectations. The building Teaching and Learning Coach (TLC) presents these modules, giving teachers opportunities to collaborate Read More
Williams Yates Elementary School (Independence, MO). The district strongly believes that instruction and learning are improved through participation in high-quality PD. District curriculum and instruction team members tasked with designing and implementing professional-learning activities cull available best practices research to identify evidence-based, manageable, and practical programming applicable to most educational settings (Pathways; Reading, Writing, and Math Read More
Ar-We-Va Junior-Senior High School (Westside, IA). Our approach to professional development is aligned to the Iowa CORE standards and benchmarks and the Iowa CORE Characteristics of Effective Instruction and is based on the Iowa Professional Development Model (IPDM). The IPDM framework includes peer collaboration, researched-based instructional practices, modeling, observation, and personal accountability. The goal of Read More
Helemano Elementary School (Wahiawa, HI). Highly trained medical professionals treat patients in intensive care units. Likewise, Title I schools require highly-trained teachers to effectively meet the needs of their students. As a Title I school, our professional development must be fine-tuned to meet our students’ needs. Professional development at Helemano Elementary is designed to develop capacity Read More
Pickering Valley Elementary School (Chester Springs PA). At Pickering Valley, teachers not only motivate students to learn, but are themselves committed to lifelong learning. Each teacher strives to grow personally and to assist colleagues in their academic endeavors. To that end, professional development is offered at both the district and building level to encourage effective, Read More
Central Academy of Technology and Arts (Monroe, NC). Central Academy of Technology and Arts strives to develop students emotionally and socially. As a school we develop our students through intensive involvement in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, advisory periods, and Culture of Respect, our character development program. Our Advisory program, a school-based initiative, engages teachers in Read More
Miles Elementary School (Miles, TX). One school-wide strategy is the implementation of morning yoga. Students are led through a pose daily; each has a purpose (to develop self-awareness, slow down, manage emotions, etc.). Research shows that anxious or stressed children find it impossible to learn. Daily yoga helps create a calm child who is ready Read More
Hillside Academy For Excellence School (Garland, TX). While Hillside is one Eagle family, the family is divided into four “houses.” All students and staff/faculty are members of a specific house. Individuals receive house points for academic performance, acts of responsibility, acts of kindness, and volunteerism. Houses earn parties based of the number of points earned, Read More
Challenger Intermediate School (Goddard, KS). Each month we concentrate on a different core character trait. Our teachers work with students on the identified trait throughout the month. Our counselor generates content and lessons, and staff regularly teach the content. At the end of the year, we celebrate our students’ success with character trait awards. All awards Read More
Lucy Franklin Elementary School (Blue Springs, MO). LFE staff fully appreciate that the quality and character of school life is based on patterns of stakeholders’ experiences and reflects norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures. Specific topics have been addressed to affect LFE climate and culture, including health, wellness, and personal Read More
Alief Early College High School (Houston, TX). Tutorials are provided by all teachers every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school. A very specific tutorial program called Tier has been created for freshmen to ease the often difficult transition from a regular middle school to an early college high school. Through Tier, all students are assigned to Read More
Center City PCS Congress Heights Campus (Washington, DC). Based on the success of the students who attended Saturday Academy, we evaluate data to re-calibrate and determine additional students who should be added to this group. The program caters to our high proficient and advanced students and runs from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. In reading, Read More
Merrymount School (Quincy, MA). Several dedicated teachers have created an after-school program designed to allow students in grades 4 and 5 the opportunity to participate in annual productions of plays by William Shakespeare. Through the rehearsal period and performances of plays such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Julius Caesar,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” students learn Read More
Kennedy Junior High School (Lisle, IL). Any student entering our school as a sixth grader who is not at grade level in math is invited to a summer ‘Math Camp’ in which they learn to use tools for problem solving and review important concepts to be ready for the middle school curriculum. These camps are taught Read More
Haldane High School (Cold Spring, NY). One of the most targeted approaches to student success at Haldane High School is the implementation of Math Labs. Designed to strengthen math instruction, Math Labs offer students the opportunity to build an extra half period of math into their schedules for more concentrated math learning. Additionally, a critical component Read More
York Suburban Senior High School (York, PA). Beyond the classroom, the Trojan Learning Center was developed to provide supplemental assistance with day-to-day coursework, along with more intensive assistance. The center is led by a full-time staff member who assists students with content and organizational skills while also providing academic monitoring. The students are further supported by Read More
Barrington High School (Barrington, RI). The Allied Arts department includes courses in Business Education, Engineering and Technology, and Family and Consumer Sciences. The current departmental goal is to develop career paths that integrate validated learning across disciplines in an effort to meet student needs. National and state standards anchor the curriculum and courses are developed through Read More
Haldane High School (Cold Spring, NY). Haldane offers seniors the option for structured internships with local organizations and businesses. Meeting criteria set by the administration, these internships enable students to gain hands-on experience in the professional world and instills a strong work ethic and responsibility. A related program for freshmen is Pathways to Success, a weekly Read More
New Mexico School for The Arts (Santa Fe, NM). NMSA’s dual-credit agreements enable students to take courses for free at Santa Fe Community College and other four-year colleges in the state. Mastery arts training at NMSA are not “arts enrichment” programs, but full pre-professional, skill-building arts curricula. It is the only public, arts-focused high school in Read More
Hereford High School (Parkton, MD). The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program identifies and supports students in the “academic middle” as they enroll in AP classes and seek admission to competitive, four-year colleges and universities. AVID students receive mentoring from AVID upperclassmen, college tutors, and their guidance counselor. Trained AP instructors advance students’ skills in using Read More
The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology [GSMST] (Lawrenceville, GA). GSMST’s signature educational practice is our required 4-year internship experience. In the ninth grade, students attend quarterly Speaker Series events where they participate in the most rigorous and informative career day possible. We bring 20-30 working professionals each nine weeks from our partner organizations to Read More
School of Health Professions (Dallas, TX). The campus has positioned itself to create a college going culture by offering only Pre-AP and AP options in the majority of its core courses and enrolling students who meet entry requirements into dual credit courses. Implementing these practices helps the campus maintain a rigorous curriculum and its status as Read More
Crofton Junior-Senior High School (Crofton, NE). Technology and business classes at CHS share staff. Technology classes include Introduction to Digital Design, Digital Media I & II, and Advanced Software Applications. These semester-long classes meet daily for 90 minutes. When students have a particular interest in computer programming, efforts are made to provide independent study opportunities. Business Read More
Brownsville Early College High School (Brownsville, TX). Ninth grade students are enrolled in one semester each of Computer Programming and Money Matters. The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Computer Programming class uses computer technology to examine the changing adaptations of business processes to new technologies and business models and provides knowledge of structured programming techniques and Read More
Young Women’s Leadership Academy (Fort Worth TX). All YWLA content areas incorporate college and career readiness standards and support our college-bound mission to expose, educate and equip every student for success in college, career and life. Students learn about college and careers through college visits, enrichment programs, presentations, college and career readiness lessons, and special programming. Read More
Tunstall High School (Dry Fork, VA). Career and Technical Education programs offer opportunities for students to earn a State Board of Education-approved industry certification and/or a professional license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Passing an industry-approved examination verifies that students have the knowledge and skills to compete for higher education and career opportunities after high Read More
Borden County School (Gail, TX). In their junior year, students may take dual credit classes in conjunction with a local junior college, at no cost, in English, History, Government, Economics, Psychology, and Math; most students graduate high school with 30 college credits. Students not interested in college can select a curriculum pathway to become career-ready Read More
South Aiken High School (Aiken, SC). An impressive 92% of our juniors are certified Work Ready, having earned national career readiness certificates on Work Keys assessments. The Career and Technology programs provide students from all grade levels the opportunity to enhance their college and career readiness skills. The Business Cluster offers courses in Integrated Business Applications, Read More
William Mason High School (Mason, OH). The MHS Applied Technology Department offers Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Advanced CAD Engineering CAD, Architecture CAD, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) (1-3) for elective credit for all grade levels. Pre-college CAD and CAM experience is important for students interested in STEM careers and guides students’ ability to model, adapt, and develop ideas Read More
Kerr High School (Houston, TX). Technology/Career-Technology Education (CTE) courses are offered to students in all grade levels and all students take at least one CTE or other technology course in computer science, computer applications, or digital art and media. Technology application TEKS are taught and reinforced across the curriculum with a focus on college and career Read More
George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology (Towson, MD). A rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, combined with challenging courses in arts and technology, fosters students’ ability to question, analyze, and problem solve, ensuring they are fully prepared for college and career. In Maryland “College and Career Readiness” is defined as “ready to take a credit-bearing course in Read More
Oconto Falls Elementary School (Oconto Falls, WI). The Oconto Falls School District was one of the first in Wisconsin to develop a 4K program for all children. The OFES Early Childhood (EC) and 4K program curriculum is tightly aligned to the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) and provides children with a play and sensory-based learning Read More
Green Valley Elementary School (Roanoke, VA). Our school currently enrolls 18 students aged 2 to 5, mostly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities, in our preschool program. “Tools of the Mind”, the preschool curriculum, is an instructional program that encourages students to strengthen their social-emotional and cognitive abilities while learning at their capacity. Students Read More
Tool Elementary School (Tool, TX). TES offers a Pre-K class for four year olds. The curriculum is aligned with the Kindergarten TEKS and includes academic, listening, social interaction, and communication skills. This curriculum gives each student the tools to be ready academically, physically, and mentally for kindergarten. The students learn by exploring and manipulating activities with Read More
Glendale Elementary School (Nashville, TN). At Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary, we have two preschool classrooms; each has students with special needs. In the inclusion class, all students have Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and in the blended class, half of the students have IEPs. The preschool follows the Creative Curriculum, which is a comprehensive curriculum that uses Read More
P.S. 39 The Henry Bristow School (Brooklyn, NY). Prekindergarten (PK) has played an important role at PS 39 for more than two decades. From its inception our PK program has consisted of two full-day programs and follows the universal PK model where each class has a maximum of eighteen students and is led by one Read More
McCook Elementary School (McCook, NE). Little Bison Preschool uses the High-Scope curriculum to develop children’s intellectual, academic, physical, social, and emotional development, which vertically aligns with Kindergarten entry skills. This process occurs continuously through “play” because students apply the skills they learn. Four principles guide our children’s growth and learning: 1) children are active learners, 2) Read More
Lessenger Elementary (Madison Heights, MI). Our preschool focuses on language, literacy, mathematics, creativity, science, technology, and social studies, using programs similar to those K-5 teachers use: Handwriting Without Tears, read-alouds and math manipulatives. We promote independence, cooperation, persistence, creativity, and problem-solving. Academic standards are aligned to the state’s; students are assessed for progress and assessment Read More