The North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District is proud to announce that the United States Department of Education has selected Voorhees High School as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School. The official announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, on September 29, 2015 and is posted on the Department of Education’s website: www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools. A total of 335 schools were selected for this distinction for 2015.
All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates: Exemplary High Performing Schools or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools. Voorhees High School was recognized in the category of Exemplary High Performing Schools, which means Voorhees is among New Jersey’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.
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. More than 8,000 schools across the country have been presented with this coveted award. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.
“First and foremost, thank you to the faculty and staff at Voorhees High School who strive to lead, teach and inspire our students to reach beyond their potential on a daily basis,” said Ronald Peterson, Principal of Voorhees High School. “Through their hard work and assistance, our students have been able to perform and sustain such a high level of achievement that the State of New Jersey took notice and nominated Voorhees as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon of School. Thank you to our students, parents and community for their dedication and support of our programs and our mission. Words cannot describe the sense of pride I feel to be a part of the Voorhees Viking Family and to see their energies acknowledged by our state and the U.S. Department of Education. It is always a great day to be a Vike, but this day is extra special.”
The U.S. Department of Education will honor 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on Nov. 9-10 in Washington, D.C. In its 33-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 8,000 of America’s schools.
The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The U.S. Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.
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