Purvis J. Behan One Of Two Brooklyn Schools To Receive 2014 National Blue Ribbon Award

Congratulations are in order! Neighbor Carla tipped us off that Clinton Hill’s PS 11 Purvis J. Behan (419 Waverly Avenue between Greene and Gates Avenues) is one of only 337 schools in the country and two schools in Brooklyn to have received a 2014 Blue Ribbon School award.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors outstanding public and private elementary, middle, and high schools each year based on their general academic achievement as well as their success in closing achievement gaps among subgroups of students. This year, PS 11 received an award in the “Exemplary High Performing Schools” category–an honor in which Sheepshead Bay’s PS 254 can also revel.

All of 2014’s winning schools will be presented with a National Blue Ribbon School plaque and flag, and will be honored at ceremonies–where educators are invited to discuss their methods and ideas for continued academic excellence–on November 10 and 11 in Washington, DC.

“You, the 2014 National Blue Ribbon award winners, are absolutely a national treasure,” said US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a congratulatory message. “[I]t’s a great, great privilege to celebrate your success. Thank you for what you do every single day to foster the curiosity, and persistence, and the joy of learning for our nation’s children.”

PS 11 has not yet responded to our request for comment–however, we figure an exclamation point-laden message on their homepage from a “Proud Principal Wrighton” says much of it.

It’s also worth noting that if you’d like to help the Purvis J. Behan crew keep up the good work, you can do so by shopping at Greenlight Bookstore (or on their website) this weekend. Simply mention PS 11 while buying this Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12, and 20% of proceeds from your purchase will go to the school.

Thanks again to Carla for the tip!

Photo via Insideschools