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Manor Woods Elementary School Named 2016–2017 Maryland Blue Ribbon School

December 5th, 2016

Manor Woods Elementary School is a 2016–2017 Maryland Blue Ribbon School. Today, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) named Manor Woods Elementary School as one of only six Maryland public schools to receive the State’s Blue Ribbon award this year.

New Blue Ribbon Schools were recognized on the basis of rigorous standards for high achievement and significant improvement developed by MSDE and the U.S. Department of Education. The awarded schools are high achievers in reading and mathematics, and economically disadvantaged schools exceeding norms and dramatically closing achievement gaps of their students in reading and mathematics.

“The Manor Woods community can be extremely proud of their students and its neighborhood school,” said Howard County Board of Education Chair Christine E. O’Connor. “Manor Woods is a high-achieving school that is continuing to improve.”

Manor Woods ES saw a marked increase in achievement in Mathematics PARCC Assessment Performance Results from 2015 to 2016. Almost 24 percent of students achieved at the highest level, Level 5, “Exceeded expectations,” in 2016, up from 17.6 percent in 2015. The number of students reaching Level 4, “Met expectations,” in English Language Arts improved to 64 percent, up from 60.9 percent.

Manor Woods ES has developed a highly effective School Improvement Plan that ensures excellence and growth for all students. School programs include early interventions, flexible instructional groupings, and strategic integration of technology where students are actively involved in their learning. In addition, Manor Woods ES boasts three Nationally Board Certified teachers and a National Arts Education Association New Art Teacher of the Year for Howard County.

“I could not be more proud of Manor Woods Elementary School and the great support it receives from the community,” said Superintendent Renee A. Foose. “The Blue Ribbon Schools Program provides one more indication of the high level of teaching and learning taking place in the Howard County Public School System, and we greatly appreciate the State’s recognition.”

This announcement brings the total number of Blue Ribbon Schools in the Howard County Public School System to 10. The schools recognized as Blue Ribbon schools are Centennial Lane, Clarksville and Manor Woods elementary schools, Burleigh Manor, Clarksville, Ellicott Mills, Folly Quarter, Hammond and Lime Kiln middle schools, and River Hill High School.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a state and national program that recognizes and honors schools that exhibit high performance and/or significant improvement in reading and mathematics achievement as measured by Maryland assessments.

Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools go on to compete for National Blue Ribbon Awards, which will be announced by the U.S. Department of Education next September. As part of the award, each school will receive a Maryland Blue Ribbon Flag, a monetary prize, interactive technology equipment, $1,000 of office supplies, and a school congratulations party. The Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate will honor each Blue Ribbon School at an awards dinner in Annapolis on March 13, 2017.