The East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) can now claim what few school districts nationally or within Louisiana can – for the fourth consecutive year, an EBRPSS school was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. 

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced today that Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School walked away with the award, the highest award given to a school in the country. 

"This is absolutely fantastic," said Phyllis Crawford, Sherwood Middle School’s principal.  "My students have earned this honor. My teachers are exemplary, and they are Blue Ribbon staff every minute of every day.  Our parents support us in everything we do, and it all meshes together to make one Blue Ribbon school. We feel the public's money couldn't buy a better education than this school."

Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School is one of only seven schools in the state, and the only public school in the area, to be named a Blue Ribbon School for 2009.

Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School joins the ranks of 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 12 area schools have been named a Blue Ribbon School – including our System’s eight schools.

A total of 413 schools nationwide can be nominated each year.  Only 314 schools nationally received the honor this year.  These award-winning schools, including Sherwood Middle Academic School, will be honored at an awards ceremony November 3 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.

The staff at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School is to be commended for their hard work and dedication.