Wildwood High School Recognized by U.S. Department of Education

WILDWOOD- This city known for its nationally ranked beach and boardwalk now has yet another national ranking to add to its list of laurels – a National Blue Ribbon School.
In an announcement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Wildwood High School, along with 285 other schools, was named one of the best in the United States. It is the only high school in Cape May County to ever receive the designation of National Blue Ribbon School.
According to the Department of Education, the school was recognized for its achievement in the category of exemplary improvement. Schools honored as “Exemplary Improving” schools have at least 40 percent of their student body from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrating the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state or national tests. Based on its performance for the past four years Wildwood High School was nominated for the prestigious award by the New Jersey’s Commissioner of Education, Chris Cerf.
Being named a National Blue Ribbon School is the highest educational honor a school may receive, said Wildwood High School Principal Christopher Armstrong.
The high school, one of nine public schools in the state to be named a 2013 winner, is only one of three comprehensive high schools to make the grade. “The others are technical schools and magnet schools,” said Armstrong.
Students’ academic growth on state exams such as the eleventh grade HSPA (High School Proficiency Assessment) was key in obtaining the award, said Josepha Penrose, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for the Wildwood School District. “They looked for whether the growth is equal across the subgroups as well as the general groups,” explained Penrose, noting achievement is monitored across the board and in all subjects.
“This is the highest award the federal government gives out,” said Penrose. “To us, it means that what we have been working towards and working hard at is making a difference.”
“This is a validation of something we already know,” added Armstrong. “We, the teachers, staff, students and community members are a hard-working group.”
Both Armstrong and Penrose agreed the key to the school’s academic success is its small size and individualized attention to students.
Armstrong said much of the improvement seen in the school has been via the school’s focus on instruction. “The focus has been instruction, and good instruction will bring up test scores. We’re looking for the student to be the hardest working person in the classroom.” He added teachers are increasing rigor in the classroom thereby making sure what they teach is meaningful, student-centered.
“We have never stressed preparing for the test,” said the principal.
“We will see increased test scores from children who know more and can do more,” explained Penrose. “We customize our curriculum and our instructional practices to meet the needs of each student.”
“National Blue Ribbon schools represent examples of educational excellence and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education,” said Duncan.
“It’s clean, it’s safe, students get individualized attention,” said Armstrong. “This is a great school.” And now it has a blue ribbon to prove it.
*****
Wildwood High School was named by the U.S. Department of Education, as one of the 286 schools that have been recognized as 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the schools live via the Department’s USTREAM channel.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private, elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement.
The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
Wildwood High School was recognized in the “Exemplary Improving” category.
The Department will honor 236 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on Nov. 18-19 in Washington, D.C.