Dundalk's Charlesmont Elementary Named a National Blue Ribbon School

Charlesmont Elementary School already knew it was a Blue Ribbon school as far as the state of Maryland was concerned.

On Tuesday, that accolade took on national status when the U.S. Department of Education named the Dundalk elementary school a National Blue Ribbon School.

Charlesmont is one of six Maryland public schools to achieve the status this year that recognizes academic excellence or the overall progress in improving student academic achievement, according to a statement from the Maryland State Department of Education.

Chadwick Elementary School in Woodlawn also received the national recognition.

"There are great students, great teachers and great schools all across Baltimore County and these are two of the finest," Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance said in a statement. "Today, we can all celebrate the hard work and dedication that went into making these two schools not just Baltimore County and Maryland standouts but national models as well."

The two elementary schools join a small and elite club of just 14 other Baltimore County public schools that have received the prestigious honor, according to the statement.

This year marks the first time since 2007 that two Baltimore County public schools have received the honor. Last year, Woodholme Elementary was the only Baltimore County school to be so honored.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the 2013 Blue Ribbon awardees via the department's USTREAM channel on Tuesday.

This year, 286 schools from across the nation were named National Blue Ribbon Schools based on overall academic excellence or their progress in improvement of student academic success, according to the statement.

The Blue Ribbon program "honors public and private schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement," according to the statement.

As soon as Charlesmont Principal Marsha Ayres learned of the honor, she shared the news with her school community via the school's intercom system, according to the statement.

"One of my teachers began whooping in the hallway, and with my guidance counselor, we went class by class and applauded our teachers and our boys and girls," Ayres said in the statement.  "It’s all because of our wonderful teachers and staff and our wonderful boys and girls. They go the extra mile."

As a Title I school, Charlesmont has been a high achiever on the Maryland School Assessments, with more than 97 percent of its 400 students scoring proficient or advanced in reading and 98.7 precut in mathematics. according to the statement.

Parental involvement at the school promotes a collaborative learning environment and membership in the Alliance for Healthy Schools program encourages healthy habits and positive decision-making, according to the statement.

In addition to Woodholme, previous National Blue Ribbon-designated schools in Baltimore County include Eastern Technical and Towson High schools; Carroll Manor, Middlesex, Red House Run, Riderwood, Seventh District, Sparks, Summit Park and Timonium Elementary schools; and Dumbarton, Hereford and Ridgely Middle schools, according to the statement.

The Baltimore County school system has celebrated National Blue Ribbon schools for nine of the past 10 years.