An upstate New York school has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2024, along with 20 others throughout the state.
City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park, located in the city of Buffalo, is a grade 5-12 program made up of 1,100 students that focuses mainly on acceleration and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, which all CHS students are a part of, according to the school's description on the Blue Ribbon website .
The federal blue ribbon is supposed to go to schools for their academic performance or because they closed achievement gaps among student groups.
Schools are nominated by state education officials across the country. Nominated schools submit applications that cover "school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement," according to the U.S. Education Department.
“The National Blue Ribbon School recognition celebrates schools that demonstrate a commitment to excellence and highlights the critical need to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities, which significantly improves student outcomes," says New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. "By inspiring and empowering students while fostering a passion for learning, these schools serve as shining examples for all educational institutions throughout New York State.”
Here's what sets the Buffalo-area school apart and which other New York schools received the recognition this year.
What sets the City Honors School apart
"Our students represent a rich diversity of cultures and neighborhoods from across our city, including households speaking 48 different languages and 73% from economically disadvantaged circumstances," the website reads. "Neurodiversity is also a CHS point of pride, with 12% of our students enrolled in our acclaimed STARS Program (Students with Autism Rising to Success)."
CHS also has long-held traditions like competing for the "Rock of Mt. Pelion" during Cardinal Craze week and polar plunges during the 8th grade trip to Algonquin Forest, which follows the school's theme of wanting to complement academics with an active lifestyle.
Also of note is the school's "framework of challenge" that all families agree to, which ensures "no student is subject to barriers which have historically prevented students of color and economically disadvantaged backgrounds from accessing advanced coursework."
Here's why: NY ranked as top state for teachers in U.S.
Which other NY schools made the list
In addition to CHS, here's which other 20 schools throughout the Empire State received the Blue Ribbon recognition this year:
- A. Fantis School of Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn
- Blind Brook High School in Rye Brook
- Brooklyn School of Inquiry in Brooklyn
- Fordham High School for the Arts in the Bronx
- Icahn Charter School 4 in the Bronx
- Icahn Charter School 6 in the Bronx
- Lakeville Elementary School in Great Neck
- Louis Pasteur Middle School 67Q in Little Neck
- MS 255 Salk School of Science in New York City
- New York City Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies in New York City
- PS 124 Yung Wing School in New York City
- PS 130 Elementary School in Bayside
- PS 150 in New York City
- PS 166 The Richard Rodgers School of Arts and Technology in New York City
- PS 184 Shuang Wen in New York City
- PS 35 The Clove Valley School in Staten Island
- PS 77 Lower Lab School in New York City
- Saint Ignatius Loyola School in Manhattan
- Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale
- South Grove Elementary School in Syosset
Rockland/Westchester Journal News senior news editor Gary Stern contributed to this report.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s NY-Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes . Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Upstate NY school named 'National Blue Ribbon School' for 2024
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