Awards and Recognition
W.B. SIMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECOGNIZED AS A
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
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(Wyoming, DE.) W. B. Simpson Elementary School in Camden has been recognized by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School.
“This award would not have been possible without the passion and dedication of the entire W.B. Simpson staff – both past and present,” said Michael Kijowski, principal at Simpson. “Each day, our staff works tirelessly to provide an exceptional school experience and instill a love of learning for each child. In turn, our students constantly strive to do their best and work exceptionally hard. We truly appreciate the support of our families and cherish the privilege of educating their children.”
“I am so proud of the students and staff at W.B. Simpson and what they have accomplished in being selected as a National Blue Ribbon School,” said Caesar Rodney School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald. “Being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School is a reflection of their hard work and commitment.” Added Dr. Fitzgerald, “I am especially proud that our school district has had four of our elementary schools win this prestigious national award in the past five years.”
Since the National Blue Ribbon School program began 32 years ago, there have been four other Caesar Rodney School District schools chosen for this prestigious honor: Caesar Rodney High School in 1984; Nellie Hughes Stokes Elementary School in 2011; Star Hill Elementary in 2012 and Allen Frear Elementary in 2013.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve at very high levels or have made significant improvements in students' levels of achievement.
The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is "Exemplary High Performing Schools," in which schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. Student subgroup performance is also at the highest levels. The second category is "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools," in which schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the last five years. Student subgroup performance for each subgroup is at high levels. Specifically, for the 2013-2014 award year, the U.S. Department of Education strengthened the focus of both categories’ performance criteria around subgroups within a school and for all students.
W.B. Simpson Elementary was chosen as a National Blue Ribbon School for meeting the criteria in the second category “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School.” Principal Kijowski and a teacher representative from W.B. Simpson will be invited to attend the national awards ceremony in Washington D.C. in November.
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- Ron Gough