Two Brevard Schools Earn ‘Blue Ribbon’ Designation
By Space Coast Daily // November 23, 2012
Recognizes Academic Improvement
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Two area schools have been selected for a prestigious award by a U.S Department of Education program.
West Melbourne Elementary School for Science, and West Shore Jr. /Sr. High School have been named 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
Out of the nine recognized schools from Florida, West Shore is the only high school to receive the honor.
Since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of academic achievement.
“I am very humbled and honored for West Melbourne to be named a National Blue Ribbon school,” said the school’s principal, Dr. Neleffra Marshall. “This recognition validates the hard work and extreme dedication of our staff, teachers, and parents in providing our students with the best education we can.”
West Shore principal Rick Fleming also was excited with the award.
“The National Blue Ribbon Award obviously represents the pinnacle of school success, and on behalf of the entire Wildcat nation, I am truly elated,” Fleming said. “I commend our students, teachers, and parents for their unwavering collective commitment to our school vision of excellence achieved.”
In 2010, Ocean Breeze Elementary received the Blue Ribbon designation. In 2009, Brevard had two Blue Ribbon schools — Ralph Williams Elementary and Cocoa Beach Jr. /Sr. High.
Both Edgewood Jr. /Sr. High and Freedom 7 Elementary were recognized in 2008. Three elementary Blue Ribbon Schools — Port Malabar, Robert Louis Stevenson and Suntree were recognized in 2007. Gemini was recognized in 2005 and West Shore earned the honor in 2004.
The U.S. Department of Education will honor 264 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C. next week. Each school will receive a plaque and a flag to signify their status as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
