The U.S. Department of Education has named Glendover Elementary a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School, based on the facility’s academic excellence.
“I could not be more proud of the children and staff,” principal Cathy Fine said. “We set really high expectations, and our children are not afraid of hard work and achieve those high levels. This (award) validates all the good work we’re doing here.”
Glendover’s designation as an “exemplary high performing school” included an asterisk to note that 40 percent of its students are considered disadvantaged. Fine said the Blue Ribbon honor is also a testament to her school’s strong English as a Second Language (ESL) program, with more than 20 percent of Glendover students classified as English language learners.
“The teachers have embraced our ESL population and accelerated their learning so that they, too, can achieve at high levels,” Fine said.
Four other Kentucky schools made the National Blue Ribbon list of 286 public and private elementary, middle, and high schools across the country recognized this year. Since the program was revamped in 2003, 45 public schools in Kentucky have achieved the designation, including Rosa Parks Elementary (2012), Dixie Magnet Elementary (2010) and Veterans Park Elementary (2008). Before that, Fayette County Public Schools had not had an honoree since Southern Elementary in 1989.