SNOW HILL — Greene Early College High School is the only area school nominated to be a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School.
The federal award is recognition by the U.S. Department of Education of schools exceeding student achievement goals or making great strides in a few years.
“(Blue Ribbon) is trying to find ways to get rid of achievement gaps among minority students, students with lower socioeconomic statuses (and) students with disabilities,” said first-year Early College Principal Patrick Greene. “(They’re) looking at all students, not just one particular group.”
Last year, 100 percent of Early College students proved academically proficient on their end-of-course exams. The school has 134 students enrolled, making it the largest group in its eight-year existence.
“We’ve got a lot of kids whose data says — in one way or another — that they shouldn’t be able to go to college,” Greene said. “This (nomination) kind of validates our mission in a lot of ways.”
The school recruits students from Greene Middle School with a goal to get them a two-year associate’s degree and high school diploma in five years.
Nine other North Carolina schools have been nominated, and eight Tar Heel State schools were named Blue Ribbon schools last year.
The Department of Education can select up to 300 public and private schools of all levels across the nation.
“I think it gives (students) a sense of pride and a sense of worth,” said English teacher Natasha Martin. “Even though they live in a small county, they’re still recognized on a huge level for their achievements.”
Early College administrators must complete and extensive application, laced with imperative school data, by Feb. 22. Winners will be announced in the fall and honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Since 1982, more than 7,110 schools in the country have been received Blue Ribbon awards.
“It’s an honor to be nominated,” Greene said, “and it’s going to be an even bigger honor if we can walk away with it.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.