Brownsville Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Distinction

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Brownsville Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Distinction

Two elementary schools in the Brownsville Independent School District now hold the distinction of National Blue Ribbon Schools. Dr. Ruben Gallegos Elementary and Mittie A. Pullam Elementary received the honors from the U.S. Department of Education.

Schools receive recognition in one of two performance categories. These are on the basis of all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

  • Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools. Measurements come from state assessments or nationally normed tests.
  • Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years.

Pullam Elementary is an Exemplary High Performing while Gallegos Elementary is an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. Both will receive plaques and National Blue Ribbon School flags at the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in November.

In Texas, public schools’ nomination considerations come from student performance on the first administration of the previous year’s STAAR assessments. Each nominated school has an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or more. Both Gallegos and Pullam Elementary’s nominations came from Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency in February 2021 as two of 26 Texas public schools.

“We are very pleased to have Pullam and Gallegos Elementary recognized by the Department of Education for their commitment to providing the highest quality instruction,” said Dr. René Gutiérrez, Superintendent of Schools of Brownsville ISD.  “I want to thank the students, parents, staff, teachers and administrators for their outstanding work and dedication in supporting our mission to graduate students who are prepared to excel in higher education and successfully pursue career opportunities.”

About National Blue Ribbon Schools

The U.S. Department of Education began the National Blue Ribbon Schools program in 1982. It recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools that have high student achievement and/or highlights exemplary progress in closing achievement gaps among student subpopulations. Since the program’s founding, 9,000 schools across the nation have received the prestigious designation.

This award recognizes the efforts and dedication of the schools’ personnel in the pursuit of academic excellence.

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