The U.S. Department of Education has named Manhasset Secondary School a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Manhasset Secondary School is one of just 312 public and 50 private schools in the nation to receive the honor this year.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools 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. Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Vincent Butera and Manhasset Secondary School principal Dr. Dean Schlanger will represent Manhasset at a future awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the school’s hard-earned achievements.
“Congratulations to Dr. Schlanger and the entire Manhasset Secondary School community for this tremendous academic achievement and national recognition,” Butera said. “This is a proud moment for all of us. I thank the faculty and staff at Manhasset Secondary School, as well as at Munsey Park and Shelter Rock elementary schools,for their efforts and dedication in making this honor possible. I am so appreciative of our students, for all of their fine efforts in making this award a reality, and thank our parents and community for all that they do for our schools. This is a truly a testament to how special Manhasset is.”
To be named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, a school must be nominated by its respective state education department before completing a comprehensive application regarding school practices. Manhasset received the Exemplary High Performing Honor, which takes into account performance on state assessments and national exams, graduation rates and school operations, such as the use of assessments and assessment data, curricula, professional development, leadership, and community and family involvement.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of receiving the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence on behalf of our Manhasset Secondary School,” Schlanger said. “This community embodies what the award is all about. It’s a community that is comprised of incredible staff members, amazing students, caring and supportive parents, and a collaborative Board of Education and administrative team dedicated to making our schools the best they can be. Together, we make Manhasset a really special community.”
The U.S. Department of Education invites nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE). Manhasset Secondary School joins more than 9,000 schools who have received the award since its inception in 1982.
For more information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools program, visit https://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html.
Submitted by the Manhasset School District