September 29, 2016, Washington, DC – Magnet Schools of America (MSA) would like to congratulate the 31 magnet schools that were designated as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. National Blue Ribbon Schools are public and private K-12 schools that have demonstrated the highest levels of academic success and have made great strides in closing the achievement gap.
All National Blue Ribbon Schools are recognized in one of two performance categories:
We proudly acknowledge the members of Magnet Schools of America that received this prestigious designation:
Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School
District: Montgomery Public Schools, AL
LAMP High School
District: Montgomery Public Schools, AL
Wonderland Avenue Elementary School
District: Los Angeles Unified School District, CA
Design and Architecture Senior High School
District: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
Skinner North Elementary School
District: Chicago Public Schools, CA
Schaffner Traditional Elementary School
District: Jefferson County Public Schools, KY
G.W. Carver Center for Arts and Technology
District: Baltimore County Public Schools, MD
The Early College at Guilford
District: Guilford County Schools, NC
John P. Freeman Optional School
District: Shelby County Schools, TN
George Bannerman Dealey International Academy
District: Dallas Independent School District, TX
George Bannerman Dealey Montessori School
District: Dallas Independent School District, TX
School of Health Professions
District: Dallas Independent School District, TX
Lovett Elementary School
District: Houston Independent School District, TX
Oak Forest Elementary School
District: Houston Independent School District, TX
“These tremendously successful magnet schools should be showcased and emulated so that others may benefit from their best practices” said MSA Executive Director, Todd Mann.
One local example is the G.W. Carver Center for Arts and Technology. This countywide magnet school is dedicated to the integration of arts, technology, and academics. It was created in 1993 to improve student achievement and accomplish voluntary school desegregation. Carver Center is a countywide magnet school for 9-12 grade students located in Towson, Maryland. The school attracts students from all socio-economic, ethnic, and academic backgrounds from across Baltimore County. It features six arts and three Career and Technology Education (CTE) magnet programs.
In its 23 year history, Carver Center has won local, statewide, national, and worldwide acclaim. Carver Center counts among its alumni 6 Scholastics Art and Writing Gold Portfolio winners, 9 Presidential Scholars in the Arts, 170 Young Arts winners, 571 AP Scholars, 24 National Merit Finalists, and 8 National Achievement Scholars. Carver Center also boasts a 100% graduation rate, 91% 2 or 4 year college enrollment, and 88.8% of its students’ AP scores qualify for college credit. Carver Center’s total minority enrollment is more than 51% and female enrollment is 70%.
The 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a national ceremony in Washington, DC on November 7 and 8, 2016 in Washington, DC. To learn more about the program and awardees, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools
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Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is a nonprofit education association that represents more than 3,800 magnet schools serving 2.6 million students. MSA was founded in 1986 and authorized as a 501(c)3 in 1994. It supports and serves the leaders and teachers of magnet and theme-based schools, while promoting the development of new magnet programs and public schools of choice. It also provides technical assistance through the National Institute for Magnet School Leadership (NIMSL).
Press Contact:
Magnet Schools of America
John Laughner, Legislative and Communications Manager
202-824-0672 or john.laughner@magnet.edu
Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish. Magnet Schools of America’s national certification process is designed to recognize the hard work of the best magnet schools in the nation and to help them as they grow.
