Every year The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program, formerly The National Title I Distinguished Schools Program, will award two schools from each state an honor recognizing high academic achievement in schools that fall at or below 35% poverty rate. L.W. Ruppel Academy for Advanced Studies in Gretna has been given the honor.

The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) has certain criteria when choosing the awarded schools.  The schools must exemplify team approaches to teaching and learning, focused professional development opportunities for staff, individualized programs for student success and strong partnerships between the school, parents, and the community.

The State Education Agency for each state will choose each school based on at least one of the following categories. Category 1 is based on exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years, Category 2 is based on closing the achievement gap between student groups and Category 3 is based on the degree in which special populations of students (homeless, migrant, English Learners) are served in the school.

Louisiana Department of Education honored L.W. Ruppel Academy for Advanced Studies, December 10, 2018, as one of the two chosen.  The school was recognized for its exceptional student performance and earned an A two years in a row.

“This is great news for these two schools and for Louisiana as a whole,” said State Superintendent John White. “It is also indicative of how hard these schools are working to ensure academic achievement and growth among all students, including those who struggle most.”

The Jefferson Parish school has been invited to attend the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Conference in Kansas City, Mo. where they will be recognized for this distinguished honor.

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