Montgomery, Ala. – Five Alabama public schools were recognized today based on their overall academic excellence or for making progress in improving student academic achievement levels. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized 269 national schools as 2012 Blue Ribbon Schools.



The USDE will honor approximately 219 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on Nov. 12-13 in Washington, D.C. In its 30-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on nearly 7,000 of America’s schools.



The Alabama schools honored, included:

Daphne High School, Baldwin County

Forest Hills School, Florence City

Liberty Middle School, Madison City

Piedmont High School, Piedmont City

Spencer Elementary School, Mobile County

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement.



The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.



A list of the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools. Nominated schools from some states will be included at a later date following final certification by the state’s chief state school officer.