Despite being a smaller school district, SE’s students, staff, and teachers have proven that their obtained academic goals can be recognized on the national level.  

The Elementary and Junior High campus was nominated to receive the National Blue-Ribbon Award for closing academic achievement gaps. The National Blue-Ribbon Award was founded in 1982 by the United States Department of Education to recognize exemplary schools from each state. To be nominated, they look at schools showing exemplary growth or exemplary growth in closing achievement gaps among student groups. Only 26 schools in the state of Texas are nominated for such an award, and only 13 are nominated for closing these academic gaps. In some areas, 25% or more achievement gaps were closed, earning SE the opportunity to be recognized for their academic success. 

Superintendent Dr. Denver Crum was filled with excitement when learning of SE’s nomination. 

“You think of the thousands and thousands of schools within the state of Texas and to be one of 26, I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness for the recognition for our staff and students,” Crum said. “I never dreamed it would be possible because it’s so hard to earn that distinction.” 

In order to be considered for nomination, SE had to show and prove continuous student growth on state assessments from one year to the next. In fact, SE’s student growth was impeccable and admirable.  

“We have been working hard the last few years trying to increase student achievement, and to be honest, being nominated for Blue Ribbon never really crossed our minds,” Principal Bub McIver said. “We were surprised and pleased and happy, and it goes to show hard work pays off.” 

Students were also proud to hear that SE had been nominated for such a major accomplishment. 

“It’s pretty cool and I’m proud of my classmates and teacher” 5th grader Abby Newton said. 

Without the students and teachers putting in maximum effort to meet these academic goals, this nomination wouldn’t have been possible. 

“When we get something wrong, the teachers help us and we try to figure it out together,” Newton said. “My classmates work very hard, and my teachers work even harder.” 

Although SE has been nominated for the award, hard work in other areas of the process still remains in the pathway of actually receiving the Blue Ribbon.  

“There’s a couple of things you have to do to continue on, and the first one is to fill out an application,” McIver said. “It’s probably a 20 page application, and that’s the easiest of the two things to do.” 

SE is currently in the application process. 

“We have an extensive application that we have to receive and submit,” Crum said. “On completing and submitting this application, the USDE will determine if we do actually meet their standards.” 

Not only this, but SE will have to prove that they have met their accountability rating. 

“Last year, we were rated acceptable,” McIver said. “A majority of school districts within the state were not rated at all because of Covid, but there was a law that the legislature had passed that if you felt that your kids did well enough, you could make an appeal to the commissioner of education and submit all of your test scores and he would determine if you got a rating or not.” 

SE would have to receive that acceptable accountability rating once more to meet all standards for the National Blue-Ribbon Award and continue on in the process. 

“If we’re successful, there will be a small group that will be invited to Washington DC to honor our school,” Crum said. “Later, we will also be invited to Austin where our school will also be recognized and honored as a national Blue-Ribbon school.” 

No matter the outcome, McIver’s main priority is to see student growth on the STARR and EOC tests. 

“It’s all about moving kids forward,” McIver said.