Education Secretary Arne Duncan Announces 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Academy of the Canyons is only Santa Clarita school honored, one of only 285 public schools in the country. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today recognized 335 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015 based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Academy of the Canyons, a Hart School District middle college on the College of the Canyons campus, is the only school in Santa Clarita to earn this prestigious recognition.
“This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” Duncan said in a video message to the awardees.  “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence—in vision, in implementation, and in results—and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”
The Department will honor 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on November 9 and 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.
“This special recognition exemplifies the overall quality and academic experience found only at Academy of the Canyons,” said Dr. Pete Getz, principal at AOC.  “The entire school community is extremely proud of being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon school.”
“AOC is unique because it gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and experience college life while they are still earning their high school diploma,” said Vicki Engbrecht, Superintendent of the Hart School District. “The school consistently ranks at the top academically of all high schools throughout the county and state, and we are proud of the teachers and staff who can make this happen.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award plaque affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The award flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
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 are among their state’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.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.
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.