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MT. VERNON SCHOOL NAMED BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

09/17/09

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel is pleased to announce that the Pennington School in Mount Vernon was named one of the 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Department of Education (DoEd) Secretary Arne Duncan. Pennington was one of only 300 public and private schools nationwide to receive the honor.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors elementary, middle and high schools which are either academically superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. These schools serve as models for other schools and details of their achievements will be posted on the Department of Education (DoEd) website (http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html).

“I am very proud that one of the finest schools in Mount Vernon was selected to receive this honor. As a former educator, I know the importance of education in helping to develop our next generation of leaders. The students at Pennington have a great leader in Principal Danielle Marrow, and I am certain Pennington will keep their standard of instruction at top levels and inspire others to follow their lead,” said Rep. Engel.

“I’d like to give credit to the former and current Pennington teachers, students and families who are one of the reasons we were able to receive this wonderful award. Pennington is a diverse school with enthusiastic teachers, administrators, parents and community members who are devoted to creating a positive and dynamic educational experience for all of our children. It is for this reason our children have excelled academically. Students are made to feel that they could make it if they give it their all. I am immensely proud of the accomplishments and achievements of the Pennington family,” said Principal Danielle Marrow.

Each Blue Ribbon School is invited to take part in a ceremony November 2-3 in Washington, D.C., where they will receive a plaque and flag from Secretary Duncan to mark their status. The program recognizes schools which have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dramatically improved student performance in accordance with state assessment. It also recognizes schools that score in the top 10 percent on state assessments.