Nativity Named National Blue Ribbon School

has been named as a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.  This honor was bestowed on only 49 private schools nationwide and is one of only two in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to receive this honor in 2011.

Nativity of Our Lord school students and parents received word of the award on September 15 at 10 a.m. when the official press release was issued by the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. 

The National Blue Ribbon School award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at high levels or where the achievement gap is narrowing.  Since 1982, more than 6,500 of America’s schools have received this coveted award.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, honors public and private schools based on one of two criteria:

1.) Schools whose students are high performing.  These are schools ranked among each state’s highest performing schools as measured by their performance on state assessments or, in the case of private schools, that score at the highest performance level on nationally normed tests; or

2.) Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that improve student performance to high levels as measured by the school’s performance on state assessments or nationally-normed tests. 

“America’s long-term economic prosperity and civic engagement depends on our children receiving a world-class education,” Duncan said in a statement released to the press.  “National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers.  Their success is an example for others to follow.” 

In anticipation of receiving the award, administration officials had planned a celebration. The students threw blue streamers from the second floor windows to decorate outside the building, blue ribbons and blue balloons decorated the property fence and at 11:45 a.m. the entire student body of 498 students celebrated with a parade around the school property. 

In the afternoon, the Home and School Association treated each student and staff member to Blue Ribbon cupcakes that matched the blue ribbons that all were given to wear.  Blue balloons were also visible in every hallway throughout the school.

The official award ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C. on November 14-15 and will be attended by school administrative staff. At that time, the school will officially receive a large Blue Ribbon Seal to display in the school.