CLARK IS AWARDED NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL DESIGNATION

The U. S. Department of Education named K. J. Clark as a 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.  This is one of the most prestigious education awards in the country.  It honors schools for doing an exceptional job at closing the achievement gap. Clark is one of three schools in Alabama and one of 287 in the country to receive this high honor.

The schools that are named Blue Ribbon Schools are selected based on one of two criteria: 1)Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on states tests; and 2) Schools whose students, regardless of background achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests.

U. S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings said in making the announcement in Washington, "These schools are proving that when we raise the bar our children will rise to the challenge. It takes a lot of hard work by teachers and students to become a Blue Ribbon school, and it's a privilege to celebrate their great efforts."