Bakersfield honored as ‘Gold Star’ school

Bakersfield is one of eight high-performing elementary schools that have been honored as Missouri's "Gold Star Schools" for 2011, state education officials announced.
"These eight exceptional elementary schools have met a high bar of excellence, and it is our honor to recognize them statewide," said Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro. "This achievement is a credit to the students, parents and staff who have dedicated themselves to excellence in education."
Established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 1991, the Gold Star program is designed to identify schools that are performing at a high level academically or making exceptional progress while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students. The state application requires schools to provide evidence of their success in such areas as curriculum, instruction and school leadership.
Recipients of the state's Gold Star program may be eligible for the national Blue Ribbon award pending results of this year's state assessments. Blue Ribbon recognition will be announced this fall by the U.S. Department of Education.
Bakersfield School was nominated earlier in the year for the 2011 Blue Ribbon Schools award.
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students. The program is part of a larger U. S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices.