Excelsior Awards and What They Mean
National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
When a school is nominated for this award, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program housed in the State Department of Education in Washington, D.C. focuses on several categories:
• Student Focus and Support
• School Organization and Culture
• Challenging Standards and Curriculum
• Active Teaching and Learning
• Professional Community
• Leadership and Educational Vitality
• School, Family, and Community Partnerships
• Indicators of Success
Blue Ribbon Schools are models of both excellence and equity. To be recognized, a school must demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students. The program recognizes schools that have demonstrated sustained success in achieving these values.
Based on the quality of the application package, the most promising schools were recommended for site visits. The purpose of a visit is to verify the accuracy of the information the school has provided in its nomination package and to gather any additional information the panel has requested. Experienced educators, including principals of previously recognized schools, visit and observe the schools for two days and submit written site visit reports. The National Review Panel Panel reads the reports and makes recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education, who then announces the names of the schools selected for recognition.
The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominated Excelsior Academy in the private school category.
Excelsior was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students.
National School of Character Award
The National Character Education Partnership awards private and public schools for their outstanding work in improving the behavior and learning of their students through character education. Once selected, the NCEP helps these schools serve as models for other educators throughout the country. Because there is no set of criteria for effective character education, NCEP have put forth 11 basic principles that serve as criteria for recognizing National Schools of Character:
• Promotes core ethical values as the basis of good behavior
• Defines character to include thinking, feeling, and behaviors
• Follows a comprehensive, intentional, proactive approach to character education
• Creates a caring school community
• Provides students with opportunities for ethical behaviors
• Offers a challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them succeed
• Fosters motivation in student learning
• Engages the school staff to model and share responsibility for character education
• Fosters shared moral leadership and long term support of character education
• Engages families and community members as partners in the character-building efforts
• Evaluates the character of the school, the staff as character educators, and the extent to which students demonstrate good character
Professor Mary Williams at the University of San Diego was researching schools with character education programs for a book and suggested that Excelsior complete the application packet for the National School of Character Award. The NCEP sent a team of experts in the field of character education to visit Excelsior Academy and report back to the committee.
Excelsior received the award and strives daily to uphold the Eleven Basic Principles of a National School of Character.
Chargers Champion School
The Chargers Champion Grant Program was created to reward schools who are helping future community leaders achieve their educational goals. The San Diego Chargers organization searches for schools who are making a difference in the lives of their students and awards them with grant money and recognition. Schools are chosen for their role in developing future leaders.
Excelsior was supported by one of the executives of Cox Cable during the application process which included: an application packet, a site visit, and interviews.
When Excelsior received the grant and recognition, the school was treated to a Chargers Champion Day at school with fun activities and exciting guest speakers.
