U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20202

Released:  October 12, 2006
Contact:  David Thomas
(202) 401-1579

        U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced that 280 of the nation's schools have been named No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools of 2006.  The program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels.  Blue Ribbon awards have been given since 1982; however, the program was revamped and renamed in 2002 to conform to the new testing requirements mandated under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

        Two North Carolina non-public schools were chosen this year.  They are:  Charlotte Christian School and Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, both of Charlotte.

        Schools are selected based on one of three criteria:  Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests as determined by the state school chief; schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests; and, private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent in the nation.