Longfellow Elementary School Named Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Department of Education

Longfellow Elementary School, in Wheaton Warrenville Community School District 200, has been identified as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for its high achievement on state tests and its incremental improvement over the last three years.  The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools award, one of the most prestigious education awards in the country, distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap. The award recognizes schools whose students achieve in the top 10 percent of their state or those who show dramatic improvement while having at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Of the 413 nominated schools, only 287 schools were selected for the award nationwide.  Of those, 19 are from Illinois. Margaret Spellings, U. S. Secretary of Education said, “These schools are proving that when we raise the bar our children will rise to the challenge. It takes a lot of hard work by teachers and students to become a Blue Ribbon school, and it's a privilege to celebrate their great efforts."

After learning about this achievement, current Longfellow Principal, Dianne Thornburg, said, “As a veteran administrator in District 200 and a community member, it's a privilege to be associated with a school and staff that earned the Blue Ribbon Award under Principal Paul McKinney, who retired in June 2007.  The Longfellow staff and students are certainly deserving of this recognition for their dedication to learning.”

The awards ceremony will take place in Washington D.C. on November 12 and 13. Ms. Thornburg and a representative of her staff will travel to Washington to receive the award on behalf of Longfellow and District 200. Paul McKinney, who was the principal when the Blue Ribbon application was submitted, will join them in receiving this recognition.