Feds honor 2 city schools for achievement

Two Philadelphia schools were among 320 schools nationwide that U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings yesterday named "2008 No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools."

Russell Conwell Middle School in Kensington and George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in North Philly were among those honored for the high level of achievement of their students.

"These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve," Spellings said in a statement. "Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead."

For the past 26 years, the federal award has been given to public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Schools are selected based on one of two criteria: those with at least 40 percent of their students from low-income families that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; and those whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on standardized tests.

Other area schools honored are Chadds Ford Elementary School; St. Aloysius Academy, in Bryn Mawr; and St. John the Evangelist School in Morrisville, Bucks County.

Each schools' principal and a guest will be invited to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony Oct. 20-21 at which they will receive a plaque and flag signifying their Blue Ribbon status. *