Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Contact:	Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115

Baker-Polito Administration Honors 51 Schools

Schools recognized for high achievement, strong progress or narrowing gaps

MALDEN - The Baker-Polito Administration today held a ceremony at the State House to recognize 51 schools for high achievement, narrowing achievement gaps between groups of students or making strong progress. The schools were recognized as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools, state-designated Commendation Schools or National Title I Distinguished Schools. "I'm proud that our Massachusetts K—12 education system is one of the best in the country, and I thank the educators and communities across the Commonwealth who are leading the way and providing high-quality educational opportunities for their students every day," said Governor Charlie Baker. "It's an honor to recognize these schools, their students and their families for all of their success and hard work toward closing achievement gaps in Massachusetts." "It is a pleasure to recognize these high-performing schools from all corners of the Commonwealth," said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. "Their communities should take great pride in their shared accomplishments, and we look forward to each school continuing to build upon their hard work in the future." "Today's ceremony is another chance to celebrate Massachusetts' strong public school system and to acknowledge that excellence can be found in a variety of types of schools and settings," said Education Secretary James Peyser. "I am grateful to all the educators, students and community members who made these schools strong." "The schools we are recognizing today are doing tremendous work for their students," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. "It is a pleasure to honor these 51 schools and the educators, students and communities who support them." The schools are being recognized in one of the following categories: 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools (three schools): Each year, the U.S. Department of Education asks the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to nominate a small number of schools for consideration as National Blue Ribbon Schools. The program recognizes schools whose students achieve at very high levels or schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap. More information is available at U.S. Department of Education. The school names were released in late September. Commendation Schools (46 schools): Each year, a subset of Level 1 schools is recognized as Commendation Schools for their academic accomplishments. A school can be commended for demonstrating very high achievement, showing strong progress overall, and/or for making strong progress toward narrowing proficiency gaps. The schools were initially announced in September. National Title I Distinguished Schools (two schools): Each year, the National Title I Association asks states to nominate two schools where students perform at very high levels, where the school has made significant progress in closing the achievement gap or where the school has demonstrated excellence in serving special populations of students. More information regarding the Title I Distinguished School program is available at National Title I Distinguished Schools. The recipients are as follows: 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools:

Daniel Butler Elementary School (Belmont Public Schools)
Morris Elementary School (Lenox Public Schools)
Merrymount Elementary School (Quincy Public Schools)

2016 National Title I Distinguished Schools:

Pawtucketville Memorial School (Lowell Public Schools)
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

2016 Massachusetts Commendation Schools:

District	School
Acton-Boxborough	Raymond J. Grey Junior High
Arlington	Brackett
Barnstable	Hyannis West Elementary
Bellingham	South Elementary
Belmont	Mary Lee Burbank
Belmont	Daniel Butler
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public (in Cambridge)
Boston	Donald McKay
	Manassah E. Bradley
	Mozart
	Patrick J. Kennedy
Brooke Charter School East Boston
Canton	Lt. Peter M. Hansen
Chelsea	Edgar A. Hooks Elementary
Concord	Alcott
Eastham	Eastham Elementary
Foxborough	Mabelle M. Burrell
Gateway	Littleville Elementary School
Hingham	Plymouth River
Hingham	South Elementary
Lawrence	Health & Human Services High School
Lenox	Morris
Lowell	Pawtucketville Memorial
Manchester Essex Regional	Manchester Essex Regional High School
Marblehead	Malcolm L. Bell
Masconomet	Masconomet Regional Middle School
Medfield	Dale Street
Melrose	Herbert Clark Hoover
Nashoba	Center School
Needham	John Eliot
Needham	High Rock School
Newton	Mason-Rice
North Reading	L. D. Batchelder
Quincy	Merrymount
Sharon	Heights Elementary
Shrewsbury	Spring Street
Somerville	Benjamin G. Brown
Springfield	White Street
Springfield	STEM Middle Academy
Swampscott	Stanley
Wachusett	Thomas Prince
Walpole	Old Post Road
Wellesley	Joseph E. Fiske
Westborough	J. Harding Armstrong
Westborough	Westborough High
Westwood	Downey
Williamstown	Williamstown Elementary
Winchester	Lincoln Elementary
Winchester	Vinson-Owen Elementary
Worcester	Chandler Elementary Community
Worcester	West Tatnuck

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Last Updated: February 1, 2017