As announced Friday, January 30, First Presbyterian Day School is one of 50 schools nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) for the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Award sponsored by the US Dept of Education. If awarded this will be the second time FPD’s elementary school has received the honor. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors America’s most successful public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Once a school is considered eligible and selected for nomination by CAPE, the school must be evaluated by the USDOE to be a “truly exemplary model school, not just good school or strong school.”
CAPE and USDOE consider the school’s overall curriculum and learning standards, instructional methods and interventions, the school’s use of assessment results, how the school engages families and community, school climate and culture, professional development, school leadership, financial and demographic data, how the school shares success with other schools, and, in the case of repeat awards, how the award has affected the school. The US Department of Education will announce winners in September.
“We are very proud of our teachers and students for making the FPD Elementary School a special place. This nomination is due to their efforts both in and out of the classroom and simply a more tangible recognition of the quality of education FPD provides,” said Dr. Barry Shealy, FPD Assistant Headmaster and Curriculum Director. “We look forward with anticipation to finding out the final results in September.”
Below is a link to frequently asked questions about the award, the nomination process, and the designation process.
(Information compiled by Beth Burnsed and Dr. Barry Shealy)