Bloomfield Tech Crowned as National Blue Ribbon School

NEWARK -- Bloomfield Tech has a coveted designation as a "National Blue Ribbon School." Its hallway lockers are painted blue and gold, the colors of the fighting Spartans, a symbol of school pride.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. In addition to being honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, where each school receives a plaque and flag signifying their status, these schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation.

Established in 1982 by Secretary of Education Terrell Bell, the program first honored only secondary schools, and was expanded to include primary schools. It was then changed again to honor secondary schools and primary schools in alternate years. The program recognized more than 3,000 schools from its inception through 1996, and currently cites nearly 300 schools per year out of 133,000 total K-12 schools,^[3], although only those schools that meet the eligibility criteria and submit applications are considered.

To be selected for recognition, a school conducts a self-evaluation -- a process that allows teachers, students, parents and community representatives to assess their strengths and weaknesses and develop strategic plans for the future. The school then submits a written application, including information on its progress toward achieving the National Education Goals. A review panel selects what they consider the most promising schools for site visits by experienced educators who submit reports on their findings. The review panel considers the reports and makes recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education, who announces the schools selected for recognition.

Eligible schools must have been in existence for five years and cannot have received the award within the five prior years.

During its 25 years of existence, from its inception in 1982 through the 2006 award year, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program has been awarded approximately 5,600 times. 5,200 different schools have been recognized, reflecting those schools that have been selected two or more times.There are over 133,000 public, charter, private and parochial schools serving grades K-12 that are eligible for the award. With 5,200 award recipients and 133,000 eligible schools, approximately 3.9% of schools nationwide have been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools.