Big A Earns Blue Ribbon Designation

A Stephens County elementary school receives national recognition.

Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education named Big A Elementary School as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2014.

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.

Big A Elementary was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.

U.S. Education Department officials said those schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

Big A Elementary School Principal Sherrie McAllister said the Blue Ribbon designation is wonderful news for the school.

“I am so proud of our students, our teachers, our parents, and our community,” said McAllister. “This is a wonderful award.”

Meanwhile, Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said the designation shows the great work going on at Big A Elementary School.

“I am certainly proud of our entire staff and student body and I think our community would obviously share in that sentiment,” said Dorsey. “We know that we have great administration over there, and a great group of teachers and support staff. We know that those kids have been working hard. It truly is an honor for them to be recognized for all of their efforts and it is certainly a privilege for us to have an institution like Big A in our community.”

Big A Elementary School is one of just eight public schools in all of Georgia to receive the National Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, just 287 public schools across the nation received the honor.

The U.S. Department of Education said that in its 32-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program has bestowed the recognition on just under 7,900 of America’s schools.