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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Distinguished Schools
688 schools found
GRADES SCHOOL SETTING TOWN POPULATION STUDENT ENROLLMENT YEAR SELECTED
West Valley Early College High School Cottonwood, CA 9 - 12 rural 3,243 750 2021
Montview Elementary School Aurora, CO pre k - 5 urban 326,382 481 2012
Wiggins Elementary School Wiggins, CO k - 5 rural 944 238 2012
Swink Elementary School Swink, CO 1 - 6 rural 700 220 2013
Nisley Elementary School Grand Junction, CO pre k - 5 urban 100,000 505 2013
Benjamin Eaton Elementary School Eaton, CO 0 0 2014
Centennial Elementary School Colorado Springs, CO k - 5 suburban 450 545 2014
Palmer Lake Elementary School Palmer Lake, CO pre k - 6 rural 2 345 2015
Benjamin Eaton Elementary School Eaton, CO 3 - 5 rural 4,647 390 2015
Eads Elementary School Eads, CO k - 5 urban 650 80 2016

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