ATLANTA – State Representative Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) commends High Shoals Elementary School in Oconee County for being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School. High Shoals Elementary School was recognized under the “Exemplary High Performing Schools” category and is one of only eight Georgia public schools to be named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School.
“I am extremely proud of the leadership team, teachers and students at High Shoals Elementary School for being named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School,” said Rep. Wiedower. “Over the last several years, we’ve seen families from across the state flock to Oconee County for its schools. This trend of families moving to our county speaks for itself. Oconee County Schools continuously produces high-performing students across all age groups, and High Shoals Elementary School deserves this national recognition for its successes.”
The USED recognizes schools for two performance categories. “Exemplary High Performing Schools” are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools” are among their state’s highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
The following Georgia public schools were also recognized as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools: Bleckley County High School, Bleckley County Schools; Crabapple Lane Elementary School, Fayette County Schools; Elite Scholars Academy, Clayton County Schools; Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson City Schools; Johns Creek Elementary School, Forsyth County Schools; Oakhurst Elementary School, City Schools of Decatur; and Riverview Elementary School, Dawson County Schools.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The USED invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education.
Private schools are nominated through a separate process by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). One Georgia private school, the Fulton Science Academy in Alpharetta, was recognized this year.
For more information about the 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools program, please click here.
Representative Marcus Wiedower represents the citizens of District 119, which includes portions of Clarke and Oconee counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Intragovernmental Coordination Committee and as Secretary of the Transportation Committee. He also serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and the Higher Education, Motor Vehicles, Natural Resources & Environment and Ways & Means committees.
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