Six Louisiana public schools get ‘Blue Ribbon’ recognition; none in Capital Region

High-performing schools or those with significant achievement improvement, especially among disadvantaged students, are annually recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Of the 2011 class, 305 schools are being recognized across the country, with six in the Pelican State and zero in Baton Rouge. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Louisiana schools receiving Blue Ribbon designation this year are: Eden Gardens Fundamental Elementary School in Caddo Parish; Hattie A. Watts Elementary School in St. Mary Parish; Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches Parish; Many Elementary School in Sabine Parish; Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies in Jefferson Parish; and Rosenthal Montessori Elementary School in Rapides Parish. In these schools, the proportion of students eligible to receive free- or reduced-price meals, a national indicator used to determine poverty, ranges from 12% to 76%. Additionally, their Schools Performance Scores, a state performance measurement, range from 109.6 to 157.5. To see a complete list of all the 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools, click here.