Cape High receives national blue ribbon honors

Cape Henlopen High School is one of three schools statewide to receive a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School award.

Superintendent Robert Fulton said he was thrilled that Cape High was the only high school honored.

"We are extremely excited that Cape Henlopen High School has been recognized  as a National Blue Ribbon School," Fulton said. "This is great news for Cape Henlopen High School and the entire Cape Henlopen School District."

Lake Forest East Elementary and Caesar Rodney School District's W. B. Simpson Elementary were also honored.

“This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments, and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. secretary of education, in a video message. “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence - in vision, in implementation and in results - and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”

Cape High received its award as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School. Other schools were honored as Exemplary High Performing Schools.

Cape's award was based on student performance for several subgroups of students. Cape students made significant improvements in students’ levels of achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students, according to the National Blue Ribbon website.

Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds, said Alison May, spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Education.

She said the honor includes no financial award.

Michael Watson, Delaware’s chief academic officer, praised each school’s community for its partnership with educators and thanked the schools’ teachers and leaders for their hard work supporting student success.

“These teachers and leaders are strong examples of the exemplary efforts of educators across our state who work hard to ensure every child in every classroom in every school is learning and growing every day,” he said.

In its 32-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has given more than 8,000 awards.