For Immediate Release:   January 16, 2012 

 

Two BPS Schools Nominated for National Blue Ribbon Award

BPS has 2 of only 15 schools statewide who were nominated

VIERA, FL — Brevard Public Schools (BPS) is proud to announce the nomination of West Shore Jr./Sr. High and West Melbourne Elementary School for Science for the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award. Only 15 schools statewide were nominated and two of those were from Brevard.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Award, a highly coveted designation in American education, distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap. Both Brevard schools have been nominated in a high performing school category, which means that the achievement of students placed the school among the highest performing schools on state assessments of reading and mathematics.

West Shore Jr./Sr. High is located in Melbourne, Florida. It is a seventh through 12^th grade school with approximately 960 students. West Melbourne Elementary School for Science is a kindergarten through sixth grade school with approximately 450 students.  It is located in West Melbourne, Florida.

To earn the award, schools must go through a lengthy application process, beginning with two rounds of review. The first screens applications for completeness, accuracy and potential eligibility issues. If issues or errors arise at this point, the school is given a chance to explain or correct them. Applications then enter a second round of review for compliance with eligibility criteria.

Once both reviews are completed, schools must meet adequate yearly progress for the latest round of state assessments in order to receive the Blue Ribbon Award. Awards will be announced in September.

In 2010, Ocean Breeze received the Blue Ribbon designation.  In 2009, Brevard had two Blue Ribbon Schools:  Ralph Williams Elementary and Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High. Edgewood Jr./Sr. High and Freedom 7 Elementary  were recognized  in 2008. Three Blue Ribbon Schools:  Port Malabar Elementary, Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School of the Arts and Suntree Elementary were recognized in 2007. Gemini Elementary was recognized in 2005, and West Shore Jr./Sr. High earned the honor in 2004.

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