CARSON CITY, Nev. – Advanced Technologies Academy (ATECH), Charles and Phyllis Frias Elementary, and Hunter Lake Elementary have been nominated by the Nevada Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools in the “Exemplary School Performance” category. The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) will make this determination in late 2019.

“These schools have been advanced for nomination as National Blue Ribbon Schools because we believe they are among the finest in the country,” said Steve Canavero, Ph.D., Superintendent of Public Instruction. “All of our students, teachers, principals, and everyone associated with these schools should be very proud of their accomplishments. These schools exemplify Nevada’s effort to become the fastest improving state in the nation.”

Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus F. Jara said “yet again, excellent CCSD schools are demonstrating their commitment to providing students with a rich and rigorous education. These nominations are a culmination of the hard work and dedication of the teachers, support professionals, and administrators at ATECH and Frias who are dedicated to challenging all students to make CCSD number one for kids.”

Washoe County School District Superintendent Traci Davis said “we are honored and excited to learn that Hunter Lake Elementary School has been nominated for such a prestigious award. Our school family—students, families, and staff members— have worked hard to improve academic outcomes at the school, and we are proud of their achievements.”

ATECH, Frias and Hunter Lake were all identified with the following National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) eligibility criteria based on school performance:

• Being in the top 15 percent of all public schools in the state when schools are ranked on the performance of all students who participated in the most recently administered state assessments in reading and mathematics;
• Each of the school’s subgroups meeting the state’s minimum size requirement, the school must be in the top 40 percent of all public schools in the state when schools are ranked on the performance of all students in the subgroup who participated in the most recently administered state assessments in reading and mathematics; and
• Each is in the top 15 percent of all public high schools in the state when high schools are ranked on the most recently available graduation rate.

The nomination process, state cut scores, and individual school performance data will be reviewed by a USDOE panel of experts. Once a state’s nomination process and list of considered schools is reviewed and accepted by the Department, formal submissions of nominated schools must be completed. This is a NBRS nomination only, and ATECH, Frias, and Hunter Lake must maintain an exemplary status into the following year.