U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., honored nine Georgia schools, ranging from elementary to high school, that received a National Blue Ribbon School designation by the U.S. Department of Education.
 
The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The following Georgia schools received the designation:
 
·         Cumming – Big Creek Elementary School

·         Cumming – Brookwood Elementary School

·         Hapeville – St. John the Evangelist Catholic School

·         Marietta – Dickerson Middle School

·         Marietta – Dodgen Middle School

·         Peachtree City – Kedron Elementary School

·         Roswell – Atlanta Academy

·         Savannah – Savannah Christian Preparatory Lower School

·         Suwanee – Riverwatch Middle School
 
“Congratulations to these outstanding schools that are going above and beyond for Georgia students,” said Senator Isakson, a member of the Senate committee that oversees education. “I encourage them to keep up the good work as they serve as guideposts for exceptional achievement.”  
 
“Congratulations to these schools’ principals, teachers, students, and parents on this high honor,” said Senator Perdue. “As the son of two school teachers, I know how much hard work goes into earning distinctions like this. Our entire state is very proud of these schools for going the extra mile to help Georgia students succeed.”
 
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.
 
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,500 schools in its 35 year history. On Nov. 6-7, 2017, Betsy DeVos, U.S. secretary of education, and the U.S. Department of Education will celebrate with these honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
 
All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
 
Exemplary High-performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

Exemplary Achievement-gap-closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.
 
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department of Education invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of