For the fifth consecutive year, a school in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. 

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced today that Ryan Elementary School received the highest award given to schools in the country.

Ryan Elementary School is one of only four schools in the state, and the only school in the Baton Rouge area, to be named a Blue Ribbon School for 2010.

Ryan Elementary School joins the ranks of Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet, Forest Heights Academy of Excellence, Westdale Heights Academic Magnet, Glasgow Middle, Shenandoah Elementary, Baton Rouge Magnet High, McKinley Middle and Northeast Elementary schools, which all received the award in the last few years.  In the past 24 years, only 13 area schools have been named a Blue Ribbon School – including our System’s nine schools.

Only 304 schools nationally received the honor this year.  These award-winning schools, including Ryan Elementary School, will be honored at an awards ceremony November 15 and 16 in Washington, D.C.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Award, the most prestigious education award in the country, distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

"For the fifth year in a row, the U.S. Department of Education has honored an East Baton Rouge Parish public school with the national Blue Ribbon School banner," said John Dilworth, superintendent of the school district.  "Ryan Elementary School exemplifies the best in education -- from its hard-working students and highly qualified teachers to its strong and caring school leaders and supportive parents and community members. The School System's ninth Blue Ribbon school has shown what we can accomplish when we all work together to provide children the best education possible. I also want to thank Darlene Brister for her 13 years of distinguished service as principal of her school."