WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ESEA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS PROGRAM?

The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is a project of NAESPA that publicly recognizes qualifying federally-funded schools for positive educational advances and the outstanding academic achievement of their students.

Established in 1996, the program showcases hundreds of schools identified by the State Education Agency for their success in one of three categories:



CATEGORY 1

Schools exhibiting exceptional student performance and academic growth

 



CATEGORY 2

Schools that have closed the achievement gap between student groups



CATEGORY 3

Schools that show excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.)



HOW ARE SCHOOLS SELECTED?

Schools are named by their State Education Agency (up to two schools per state) and collectively exhibit the following common characteristics:

  • A poverty rate of at least 35% for the selected year (may use the state’s average poverty rate to qualify a school if below 35%)
  • Demonstrated high academic achievement (which may include high academic growth)
  • Met or exceeded state-determined accountability criteria


HOW SCHOOLS ARE HONORED?

All National ESEA Distinguished Schools are honored with a commemorative award package, a dedicated section on the ESEA Network website, and a special presentation at the National ESEA Conference. Throughout the National ESEA Conference, select sessions feature Stories of Success from Distinguished Schools, highlighting the notable work they have done to make significant improvements for their students. Distinguished School attendees are celebrated during several exclusive Conference events.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS USING THE INTERACTIVE MAP BELOW

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hawaiian or other pacific islander

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Distinguished Schools
688 schools found
GRADES SCHOOL SETTING TOWN POPULATION STUDENT ENROLLMENT YEAR SELECTED
Wilmer Elementary School Wilmer, AL pre k - 5 rural 11,874 632 2015
Saraland Elementary School Saraland, AL pre k - 4 suburban 14,000 1,009 2017
Arab Elementary School Arab, AL 3 - 5 rural 8 0 2018
Guin Elementary School Guin, AL pre k - 6 rural 2,337 0 2019
Meadowlane Elementary School Phenix, AL k - 5 urban 36,345 200 2019
Cleburne County Elementary School Heflin, AL pre k - 4 rural 3,434 313 2020
Monroe Intermediate School Lower Peachtree, AL pre k - 8 rural 600 89 2020
Piedmont Elementary School Piedmont, AL pre k - 5 rural 4 514 2022
Newton Elementary School Newton, AL pre k - 6 rural 2,000 286 2022
Vernon Elementary School Vernon, AL pre k - 3 rural 2,204 277 2023

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