Lafayette, St. Landry schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022
Two Acadiana schools were recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, earning one of the highest honors for schools in the country.
Myrtle Place Elementary School in Lafayette and Grand Prairie Elementary School in Washington were two of seven Louisiana schools to receive the award. Around 300 schools were recognized across the country in 2022.
Both of the schools were awarded in the Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools category, meaning they were among the best in the state at closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
"I just could not be more proud of every teacher and every leader here, support staff, everyone who supports the growing and learning of each boy and girl here," said Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent Irma Trosclair in an announcement to Myrtle Place's campus. "I'm super proud, super excited...it took everyone of you working together to make this happen."
Myrtle Place Elementary has around 350 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which oversees the National Blue Ribbon Schools program. It is a Title I school, meaning it has high numbers or a high percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged.
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The school is also one of those in the Lafayette Parish School System’s French Immersion Program.
Myrtle Place Elementary is the first LPSS school to be named a National Blue Ribbon School since Early College Academy in 2019. It’s the seventh time an LPSS school has been recognized since the program began in 1982.
Grand Prairie Elementary is the second St. Landy Parish public school to be honored, with the first being Eunice Elementary School in 2010. Grand Prairie has around 257 students and is also a Title I school.
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The other Louisiana schools that were awarded in 2022 include the LSU Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, St. James Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge, Folsom Elementary School, South Highlands Elementary Magnet School in Shreveport, and Frasch Elementary School in Sulphur.
“Louisiana’s National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the level of quality and choice available to families in our state,” said State Superintendent Cade Brumley in a release. “Congratulations to these schools and thank you to these educators for cultivating an environment where the top priority is student success."
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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette, St. Landry schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022
