Avoyelles Public Charter named national ‘Blue Ribbon School’

 

   Avoyelles Public Charter School has been named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School, U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King Jr. announced.
   APCS is one of 279 public and 50 private schools receiving the national honor. There are nine Louisiana schools -- six public and three private -- receiving the designation.
   Public schools are nominated for the award by their state Department of Education. School officials then submit a comprehensive application concerning school practices.
Schools may apply for status as Exemplary High Performing among the top schools in a state or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing, which are schools making the fastest progress in their state in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. 
    APCS received the blue ribbon as an “Exemplary High Performing” school.
   "The leaders, educators, students and families of these six (public) schools should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished," Louisiana DOE Superintendent John White said. "Their ability to either steadily improve student achievement over subsequent years or consistently remain one of the top-performing schools in the state is a commendable achievement worthy of this distinguished honor."
    School representatives will represent APCS at the awards ceremony events on Nov. 7-8 in Washington, D.C.
   Stewart Wixson of Cottonport, an APCS parent, said the honor is “well-deserved, from the top to the bottom. The entire staff is excellent.”
   He and wife Kim have had one son, Mason, graduate last year and have two children at the school now -- 11th grader Anna Blair and 4th grader Cy.
   “Our kids have not only been taught and received excellent academic challenges, but they have been mentored to become productive citizens.
   “The school doesn’t just prepare them to graduate, but prepares them for life.”