Brownsville ISD Campuses selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools
Brownsville ISD Campuses selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools
Brownsville, Texas – September 21, 2021 – The Brownsville Independent School District (Brownsville ISD) announces today that two elementary schools, Dr. Ruben Gallegos Elementary and Mittie A. Pullam Elementary, were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores, and graduation rates:
- Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
- Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's student groups and all students over the past five years.
Pullam Elementary was recognized for Exemplary High Performing and Gallegos Elementary was recognized for Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. Both will receive a plaque and a National Blue Ribbon School flag at the awards ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. in November.
The official announcement was made today by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and it was broadcasted online. In Texas, public schools are considered for nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the previous year’s STAAR assessments. Each nominated school has an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or more.
“We are very pleased to have Pullam and Gallegos Elementary recognized by the Department of Education for their commitment to providing the highest quality instruction,” said Dr. René Gutiérrez, Superintendent of Schools of Brownsville ISD. “I want to thank the students, parents, staff, teachers, and administrators for their outstanding work and dedication in supporting our mission to graduate students who are prepared to excel in higher education and successfully pursue career opportunities.”
Initiated by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that have high student achievement and/or highlights where exemplary progress has been made in closing achievement gaps among student subpopulations. Since the program’s founding, 9,000 schools across the nation have received this prestigious designation.
This award recognizes the efforts and dedication of the schools’ personnel in the pursuit of academic excellence. Gallegos and Pullam Elementary were nominated by Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency in February 2021 as two of 26 Texas public schools.
For more information, contact the Brownsville Independent School District at 956.548.8000.
###
About Brownsville Independent School District:
Established in 1915, The Brownsville Independent School District is a public school district whose mission is to graduate students who are prepared to excel in higher education and successfully pursue career opportunities in a changing global society by maximizing resources to ensure equitable opportunities for all students. Recognized for its top rated performance through the Texas Education Agency, the Brownsville Independent School District is the largest employer in the Rio Grande Valley with 54 schools, 6,696 employees, and 40,765 students. The Brownsville Independent School District provides a broad selection of academic activities and programs for all students that range from Early College High Schools to support programs for students with special needs. Thanks to the support of the local community, the Brownsville Independent School District is The Best Choice with a graduation rate of 93%. For more information, visit www.bisd.us.