Graham Elementary has been selected for recognition as part of the 2012 Blue Ribbon Schools program. The prestigious award honors schools for academic excellence and for significant progress in closing achievement gaps and sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement. Graham is of one of the 26 public schools nominated in Texas. The number of nominations varies from state to state depending on size and population.
The nominated schools were chosen through an objective evaluation of student achievement statistics and other data for the more than 8,000 public school and charter campuses in the state. The selected schools have demonstrated success in closing achievement gaps, and each school has an economically disadvantaged population of 40 percent or greater.
Schools are selected for one of two honors:
- Improving - Schools that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests
- High Achieving - Schools whose students rank in the top 10 percent based on performance on their state standardized tests
Graham Elementary was nominated in the "Improving Schools" category and has had a long track record of academic successs. The campus was rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency in 2011 and received Gold Performance Acknowledgements for Commended Performance in reading, writing, mathematics and science.
Graham and the other nominated schools are now eligible to complete a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education. Award winners will be announced in September 2012 and schools that receive the award are then recognized at the Blue Ribbon School conference in Washington, D.C.
Since 1982, this prestigious program has honored more than 6,000 of America's most successful schools, including 538 Texas public schools.
Congratulations to Principal Blaine Helwig and the staff of Graham Elementary!