The U.S. Department of Education announced that seven Louisiana schools have won 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program awards for closing achievement gaps, especially among minority or disadvantaged students.

“We applaud these schools for their ability to either steadily improve student achievement over subsequent years or consistently remain one of the top performing schools in the state,” said State Superintendent John White. “What an honor it is to have them represent Louisiana.”

Two of the winning public schools are recognized as “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools” and are among the highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. They are:

• Bayou Black Elementary School, Terrebonne Parish
• St. Charles Elementary School, Lafourche Parish

Four of the winning public schools are recognized as “Exemplary High Performing Schools” and are among the state’s highest-performing schools overall. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels. They are:

• Early College Academy, Lafayette Parish
• Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies, Jefferson Parish
• Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, Jefferson Parish
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies, Jefferson Parish

One nonpublic school, Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge, also received the national honor.

The Louisiana Department of Education nominated the six public schools for the award in January 2019. Nonpublic schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education.

An awards ceremony will be held Nov. 14-15, 2019, in Washington, D.C., to honor each of the recipients.