Courtney Congratulates Three Eastern Connecticut Schools for "Blue Ribbon" Designation

Washington, DC -- Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) congratulated East Lyme High School, Thomas W. Mahan Elementary School in Norwich, and the Oakdale Elementary School in Montville on being named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education today. Three of the five Connecticut schools named today are located in the Second Congressional District.

"Eastern Connecticut should be very proud of the recognition that three of our schools received today," Courtney said. "Blue Ribbon designation does not come easy - it requires the hard work and dedication of a school's leadership and, most importantly, the passion of its teachers. The families of East Lyme, Norwich and Montville are fortunate to have these schools in their communities."

342 schools were recognized by the federal Department of Education as Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017. According to the department, the recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Designees will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in November.

East Lyme High and Oakdale Elementary were honored as "Exemplary High Performing Schools," meaning that they are among the state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

Thomas Mahan Elementary was honored as an "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School," meaning that it is among the state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years.

More information about the program and this year's honorees can be found here: http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

Congressman Courtney is a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee.