Edison, SD High International Studies are Blue Ribbon Nominees

Edison Elementary School and the School of International Studies at the San Diego High Educational Complex have been nominated for Blue Ribbons from the U.S. Department of Education.

The two schools were in a group of 35 submitted by the state Department of Education. Nominees generally receive the awards, which are generally announced in the fall by the U.S. Department of Education.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve at very high levels and/or where the achievement gap in narrowing. The Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement.

"Both of these schools have outstanding, innovative programs and hard-working students in very challenging neighborhoods," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. "Edison is a national leader in English-language learning and International Studies is regularly near the top of America's best high schools lists."

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is part of a larger U. S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds.

"There are only two other school districts of the thousand in the state that had two schools nominated," said Kowba. "This is another indication of the fine learning being done by students, the fine teaching being done by our teachers and all the fine work being done by our staff."

Nearly a dozen San Diego Unified schools have been honored over the years with a Blue Ribbon, most recently 2010, when the School of Digital Media and Design at Kearny High and Preuss UCSD charter picked up the prize. For more information on the Blue Ribbon winners, go to http://www.sandi.net/Page/33040.