Students at Broadneck Elementary School had reason to sing loudly and cheer wildly for their school.
Their school was one of six in the state to be named a 2008 Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
“Our community is extremely, extremely involved in our children?s lives. We have children that come to learn,” Broadneck Assistant Principal Jeffrey Haynie said before the school was given a Blue Ribbon flag by the Maryland State Department of Education recently.
“Not only do we study hard, but we are talented in many ways,” said fifth-graderDylan Gugerty, who was the master of ceremonies.
To achieve Blue Ribbon status, schools need to:
» Be in the top 10 percent of schools statewide in reading and math during at least the past three years on the Maryland School Assessment. Schools also can be honored for showing dramatic improvement on the test scores.
» Set themselves apart in terms of community involvement and innovative programs, said Darla Strouse, the director of the state Blue Ribbon program.
On the past year?s MSA, 97.3 percent of Broadneck Elementary fifth-graders scored at least proficiently in reading and 99.1 percent scored at least proficiently in math, school officials said.
The continued high scores during past years qualified the school to be considered for Blue Ribbon status.
The school has greatly encouraged community service, resulting in a 90 percent showing at PTA meetings, and has a strong teacher-retention program, Strouse said.
Broadneck is eligible to become a National Blue Ribbon School; only eight county schools have reached this status. Severna Park Middle School was the last one in 2006.
Blue Ribbon winners
These other schools were recognized as a 2008 Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence:
» Cresaptown Elementary in Allegany
» Cecil Elementary in Baltimore City
» Piney Ridge Elementary in Carroll
» Hickory Elementary in Harford
» Hickory Elementary Washington
Source: Maryland State Department of Education
