September 29, 2017, San Jose, CA: The Moreland School District is proud to announce that Payne Elementary School has been recognized as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. Announced nationally, Payne is one of 342 schools chosen in the country, and the only school chosen in Santa Clara County to be recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School under the National Blue Ribbon honors.
As one of 25 schools selected in California, Payne was selected for being in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state when schools are ranked on the performance of all students who participated in the state assessments (California Assessment of Performance and Progress) and for being in the top 40% of all schools in the state when schools are ranked on the performance of all students in the subgroup who participated in the state assessment tests.
Payne Principal Cathy Bailey attributes the students’ success to the teachers’ dedicated focus on reading and differentiated instruction. “Our staff, families, and Payne community partner together to empower every child in a way I’ve never seen before,” said Cathy. “For example, the most emergent readers spend class time in guided reading groups with a credentialed teacher or an intervention specialist. With the support of these trained classroom leaders and our volunteers inside the classroom, members of the school community have an all-hands on deck approach as the school community works together to develop a program that will ensure each child will succeed.”
“Payne is an example of the power of public education when the community of students, parents and teachers are vested in success for all students, “ said Superintendent Mary Kay Going.
Representatives from Payne will accept this recognition at an awards ceremony with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. on November 6-7, 2017. For more information on the 2017 National Blue Ribbon School honors announced this morning, visit: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/national-blue-ribbon-honors-announced-342-schools.