Sandown North Elementary School Selected As Blue Ribbon Award Winner By U.S. Department Of Education

Sandown North Elementary School has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School. Before naming National Blue Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Education requests nominations from state education chiefs/commissioners. The nominated schools submit applications for the Blue Ribbon recognition. Sandown North Elementary School was among 304 schools nationwide – 255 public and 49 private — to receive the Blue Ribbon honor for 2011.

The Sandown North Elementary School is comprised of grades K-3 with almost 300 students. Under the leadership of Principal Jo-Ann Georgian the school focuses on teamwork, leadership and passion in order to inspire the entire school community to reach their fullest potential. Ongoing communication is a key factor in promoting and engaging, positive culture for student learning and academic success. The mission of the Sandown North Elementary School is "Challenging learners to succeed in a respectful environment.”

"Congratulations to the Sandown North Elementary School for this extraordinary achievement,” said Virginia M. Barry, Ph.D., Commissioner of Education. “We are extremely proud to have Sandown North as a National Blue Ribbon School.”

1. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools based on one of two criteria:
   Schools whose students, regardless of backgrounds, are high performing. These are schools ranked among the 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 tests referenced by national norms in at least the most recent year tested; and
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.

Sandown North Elementary School was recognized as a “high-performing” school.

Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds. The Blue Ribbon Schools program is part of a larger US Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve.

The principal and one teacher from each school are invited to celebrate the honor at an awards ceremony scheduled for Nov. 14-15 in Washington, D.C.

For more information about this and other award/recognition programs coordinated through the Department of Education log on to www.education.nh.gov/recognition/index.htm.