Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Chris Van Hollen announced today that Viers Mill Elementary School has been named a Blue Ribbon School for 2005. The Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels.
"I am proud of the achievements of the students, teachers, and principal at Viers Mill,” said Van Hollen. “It is important that we foster a climate of academic excellence, enabling all students to reach their highest levels of scholarship.”
The schools are selected based on one of three criteria:
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Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests, as determined by the state school chief;
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Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests; and
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Private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent in the nation.