New York City Has Six 2017 Blue Ribbon Schools

NEW YORK CITY — Six New York City schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday. The schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are among the best in the nation when it comes to academic performance, federal education officials said.

The city schools are among 342 across the country chosen for the honor. The distinction is based on graduation rates and student test scores across classes and within specific demographic groups.

The honored New York City schools include:

• ICAHN Charter School 5 in the South Bronx
• Leadership Prep Ocean Hill Charter School in East New York, Brooklyn
• P.S. 115Q The James J. Ambrose School in Floral Park, Queens
• P.S. 130 Hernando De Soto School in Chinatown
• P.S. 195 Manhattan Beach School in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn
• P.S. 748 The Brooklyn School for Global Scholars in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

"Our students and educators do amazing work every day, and it is wonderful to see them recognized with this honor," city schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said in a statement.

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The federal Department of Education honors Blue Ribbon Schools each year based on their outstanding academics or their progress toward closing gaps in scores between groups of students. All the New York City schools were recognized for high performance.

The city's honorees this year are all elementary schools ranging in size from 285 students to 948. One, the PS 130 Hernando De Soto School, is a so-called Title I school where more than half the students come from low-income families.

New York City has about half as many Blue Ribbon Schools this year as in 2016, when 11 schools across all five boroughs were honored.

Public schools are nominated by state education officials. At least a third of nominated schools must have student bodies composed of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to the Department of Education.

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future," U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement. "You are visionaries, innovators and leaders."

(Lead image via Pixabay)