Home » Home » Blue Ribbon School West Shore Contingent Receives Award From Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in DC

Blue Ribbon School West Shore Contingent Receives Award From Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in DC

By  //  November 28, 2018

one of only nine schools in Florida to earn the elite designation

West Shore Jr./Sr. High School in Melbourne has been named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School — one of only nine schools in Florida to earn the elite designation. Above, Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins joined West Shore Jr./Sr. High School Principal Rick Fleming and the West Shore team in Washington, DC to receive the award from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. (BPS image)

WASHINGTON DC – West Shore Jr./Sr. High School in Melbourne has been named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School — one of only nine schools in Florida to earn the elite designation.

Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins joined West Shore Jr./Sr. High School Principal Rick Fleming and the West Shore team in Washington, DC to receive the award from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

This is West Shore’s third time earning the National Blue Ribbon School distinction. They are one of only five schools in the country that has received this prestigious recognition.

“We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives,” said DeVos.

West Shore — a public school that draws interested students by lottery — is the only high school in Florida that has received Blue Ribbon honors three times under criteria that changed in 2002.

In 2017, three Brevard schools won National Blue Ribbon honors: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High on Merritt Island; Robert L. Stephenson on Merritt Island; and Manatee Elementary in Viera.

West Shore Jr./Sr. High School in Melbourne has been named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School — one of only nine schools in Florida to earn the elite designation.

To earn the federal Blue Ribbon award, a school’s students must be among the state’s top performers on state accountability measures including assessments in English and Math.

The U.S. Department of Education also looks for demographic and geographic diversity that matches the state’s public school-age population. The award “affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content,” the DOE says.

“West Shore Jr./Sr. High School is ecstatic indeed to yet again be in such elite company with this recognition,” said Fleming.

“Our success is due to several factors including an amazing instructional and support staff, immeasurable support from parents and community members, our school board and superintendent, and — most certainly — our exceptionally hard-working students.”

Principal Rick Fleming: “West Shore Jr./Sr. High School is ecstatic indeed to yet again be in such elite company with this recognition. Our success is due to several factors including an amazing instructional and support staff, immeasurable support from parents and community members, our school board and superintendent, and — most certainly — our exceptionally hard-working students.”
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