Park Slope's P.S. 39 Chosen by U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon School

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Park Slope's P.S. 39, otherwise known as The Henry Bristow School, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education as one of this year's National Blue Ribbon Schools.

The program "recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups," according to the DOE.

A total of 329 schools were selected for the award nation-wide this year, of which 279 are public and 50 are private. Ten were in New York City, with P.S. 39 one of just two in Brooklyn (the other was Excellence Girls Charter School in Bed-Stuy).

The winning schools will be recognized on Nov. 7 and 8 at a Washington, D.C. ceremony.

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are proof that we can prepare every child for college and meaningful careers," said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. in a video message to the winners. "Your schools are on the cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices — professional learning communities, project-based learning, social and emotional learning, positive behavior systems — making you shining examples for your communities, your state and the nation."

Patch hasn't had a chance to speak to P.S. 39 officials, but we'll update this post with their reaction to the honor.

Pictured at top: P.S. 39. Image via Google Maps