A Danbury school is one of four in Connecticut to be named by the U.S. Department of Education as 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This award is given annually to select schools across the nation for demonstrating overall high achievement of success in closing achievement gaps.
Great Plain School in Danbury serves about 280 students in Grades K-5. More than half of the students are from economically-disadvantaged families, and one-third of the students are English learners. This school was named a School of Distinction for three consecutive years. Most recently, in 2018-19, the school demonstrated not only overall high performance in English language arts, but they were also recognized for the strong academic growth of students with high needs in mathematics and ELA.
The school community including parents and staff meets monthly to discuss student success and current challenges. Additionally, through a partnership with the Jericho Foundation, volunteers including retired teachers, bankers, doctors, construction workers, project managers, and nurses work weekly with students to provide individualized attention and support. In an effort to extend learning time, the school has offered a program for students to arrive at school early four days each week using district-provided transportation so that they may participate in additional math and reading instruction and enrichment based on student need.
Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker congratulated all of the schools named Blue Ribbon Schools in 2022. She says they are prime examples of the many innovative practices underway in districts to ensure the continued growth and educational success of students.
