NYC Blue Ribbon Schools: 8 Earn Coveted Honor

NEW YORK — Eight New York City schools earned the honor of being named a National Blue Ribbon school for 2019, the U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday.

The coveted distinction "affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content," according to the Department of Education.

A total of 362 schools across the country earned the title. The Big Apple's honorees included four charter schools and four public district schools. Three are in Brooklyn, two are in Manhattan, two are in The Bronx and one is in Queens.

Each school that earns the award is either among the highest performing schools in a state or among the highest performing in closing the achievement gap.

New York City's Blue Ribbon schools are:

• Academic Leadership Charter School, Mott Haven, The Bronx
• Achievement First Bushwick Charter School, Bushwick, Brooklyn
• Hellenic Classical Charter School, Park Slope, Brooklyn
• P.S. 101Q The School In The Gardens, Forest Hills, Queens
• P.S. 40 Augustus Saint-Gaudens Elementary School, Gramercy, Manhattan
• PS 253, The Magnet School of Multicultural Humanities, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
• PS 59 Beekman Hill International School, Midtown East, Manhattan
• South Bronx Classical Charter School II, Mott Haven, The Bronx

"We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a video message to the honorees. "As a National Blue Ribbon school, your school demonstrates what is possible when committed educators hold all students and staff to high standards and create vibrant, innovative cultures of teaching and learning."

A ceremony honoring the schools will be held in Washington D.C. in November.

You can see the full list of Blue Ribbon schools for 2019.