E.O. Smith named National Blue Ribbon School

Sep. 22—U. S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, including E.O. Smith High School in Storrs Mansfield.

Schools are given this award each year based on their overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school's entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

E. O. Smith was one of four Connecticut schools that received the Blue Ribbon award. The other schools were Great Plain School of the Danbury Public School District, Booth Hill School of the Trumbull Public School District and Whiting Lane School of the West Hartford Public School District.

Cardona commended each of the schools who received the award.

" I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams," Cardona said in a press release. " As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs."

Up to 420 schools may be nominated for the award each year. The U. S. Department of Education invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, U. S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

The Connecticut State Department of Education uses data from the Next Generation Accountability System to nominate schools for the National Blue Ribbon School Award.

Given the recent pause in accountability determinations, current recipients were nominated based on 2018- 2019 accountability results. Nominated schools must complete an application process and be approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

E.O. SMITH, Page 4