A.L. Wilson Elementary School honored
The superintendent of the Albert Gallatin Area School District Wednesday congratulated the teachers, staff, parents and students of A.L. Wilson Elementary School for being recognized a 2006 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Blue Ribbon School. “It is truly an honor to have A.L. Wilson recognized, especially since Smithfield Elementary achieved the honor last year,” said Superintendent Walter Vicinelly at the regular school board meeting.
For two consecutive years, A.L. Wilson has achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), meeting academic achievement, attendance and Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test participation targets as defined under the federal NCLB.
“There is a direct relationship between (those achievements) and the parent, teacher, administration and student involvement. We’re seeing those groups work together to accomplish these goals,” added Vicinelly.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Blue Ribbon Schools are schools across the country that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels.
A.L. Wilson received a congratulatory letter on its achievement from U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Oct. 12.
Pennsylvania saw 13 public schools, including A.L. Wilson, nominated for the honor, while only nine across the state were recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools.
Spellings referred to Blue Ribbon Schools as “national models of excellence from which others can learn.”
Criteria for recognition includes schools having at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and that have dramatically improved student performance to high levels in reading and math on the assessment tests.
The program also recognizes schools in the top 10 percent on assessments regardless of their demographics.
A ceremony will be held at A.L. Wilson in the near future to celebrate the school’s achievement.