Gerritsen’s P.S. 277 Wins National Blue Ribbon Award

Public School 277 in Gerritsen Beach was recognized — along with 334 other schools nationwide — as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School based on its overall academic excellence, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Tuesday.

Nestled between Plumb Beach Channel and Marine Park’s salt marsh, at Gerritsen Avenue and Bijou Avenue, P.S. 277 provides students with an immersive hands-on learning experience with the local aquatic ecology. Starting in 1993, the K-5 school participated in a Federal Magnet Grant that led to the creation of its Marine Biology Program, which is designed to teach students scientific concepts related to the surrounding environment. The school also partners with private arts organizations, and organizes field trips the city’s many museums and theaters, in order to enrich students understanding of the arts. P.S. 277 has 450 students, 46 percent of whom are considered economically disadvantaged, according to the Blue Ribbon School’s profile.

Schools that qualified for the Blue Ribbon distinction are recognized 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. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.

• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.

In southern Brooklyn, Coney Island’s P.S. 100 and Bensonhurst’s Academy of Talented Scholars (TAOTS) P.S. 682 were also awarded the award as Exemplary High Performing Schools. These exceptional schools demonstrate that all students can achieve to high levels, according to Duncan.

“This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” Duncan said in a video message to the awardees. “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence—in vision, in implementation, and in results—and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”

In its 33-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed the coveted award on more than 8,000 of America’s schools. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award flag gracing a school’s building has become a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

The U.S. Department of Education will honor 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on November 9 and 10 in Washington, D.C.