Two State Schools Selected for Blue Ribbon Honors

Malden - Massachusetts Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll announced today the selection of two Massachusetts schools as winners in the 1998-1999 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

The winners were the Perley Elementary School in Georgetown and the Edgartown Elementary School in Edgartown.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program, started in 1982 by the United States Department of Education, promotes school improvement by identifying public and private schools that are unusually effective in meeting local, state and national educational goals.

Commissioner Driscoll nominated five Massachusetts schools last winter. The nominations were then sent to Washington D.C. for evaluation by a National Review Panel convened by the United States Department of Education. After the initial review, panel members visited the schools, then met again before making the final decision.

"We are very pleased these two schools were selected as Blue Ribbon Schools," Commissioner Driscoll said. "The application process is very challenging and I am proud of their achievement."

Representatives of the Perley School and Edgartown School have been invited to participate in a National Recognition Ceremony to be held later this year in Washington D.C.

For more information on Blue Ribbon Schools and other recognition programs, call the Massachusetts Department of Education at 781-388-3300, or visit the website at http://www.doe.mass.edu.