Casey Middle named a Blue Ribbon School

Casey Middle School held a ceremony on Oct. 19 to celebrate the school's designation as a federal Blue Ribbon School. The school received a certificate from a representative of the U.S. Education Department. Pictured, from left, are sixth-grade teacher Andrew LaMont; the U.S. Department of Education deputy secretary's regional representative, Orysia Dmytrenko; Casey eighth-grader Sam Zwierzchowski; and Principal Francis McGreevy.

The state Education Department has joined the U.S. Education Department in naming 16 New York State elementary and middle schools as 2007 Blue Ribbon Schools.

To reward successful schools, the U.S. Department of Education established the No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program to honor those elementary and secondary schools in the United States that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. The state Education Department nominated the New York schools for the award.

Casey Middle School, under the direction of Principal Frances McGreevy, was recognized for placing in the top 10 percent of schools as measured by state tests in both English language arts and mathematics during the 2005-06 school year.

"New York's Blue Ribbon Schools are standard setters. They have met important challenges. The Regents commend these schools for excellent work on the part of teachers, administrators and especially their students," said State Education Commissioner Richard Mills. "Each year, more New York State students are performing at a higher level, but we still have a way to go."

McGreevy and teachers Mary Lickfeld and Nancy Cook will travel to Washington D.C. from Nov. 12 to 13 for the national Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony. They have been selected to make a presentation at the event showcasing Casey's success before a national audience.