HOUSTON – Feb. 12, 2020 – Spring ISD’s Edward Roberson Middle School is one of 26 schools in the state of Texas to be nominated as a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Created by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that have high student achievement, and highlights exemplary progress made in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“It has been our school ambition to cultivate a learning environment in which we know we produce well-educated, well-rounded, culturally sensitive and socially conscious scholars,” said Roberson Principal Tracey Walker. “As the leader of Roberson Middle School, this nomination is the acknowledgement that we truly are on the right path in cultivating our scholars’ abilities to flourish and be globally competitive leaders of tomorrow.”

According to TEA, public schools in Texas are considered for nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the previous year’s STAAR assessments. Each nominated Blue Ribbon school has an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or more.

“We are excited and extremely honored that Roberson Middle School has been nominated by TEA as a National Blue Ribbon School,” said Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, Spring ISD’s chief of School Leadership and Student Support Services. “We are very proud of all the hard work and commitment of our staff in creating a school where all students have the opportunity to achieve. This nomination is a recognition of their dedication and leadership.”

Roberson was also recently recognized as a Gold Ribbon School for the 2018-19 school year by Children At Risk, a Houston-based research and advocacy program that conducts research to understand trends, inequities, resources and opportunities in education.

“I truly believe that we close the gap due to a strategic balance of our high-stakes, data-driven learning environment, our collaborative ownership belief that everyone is responsible for leadership and student achievement, and our authentic, non-traditional approach to hands-on learning experiences in the areas of math, science and fine arts,” said Walker. “The combination of all of these efforts truly empowers our school and impels our scholars to work diligently, excelling with every opportunity and choice that Spring ISD has to offer.”

Each nominated school must now complete a thorough application process conducted by the U.S. Department of Education. National award winners will be announced in September and will be recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.