Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School is one of five schools in the state to be honored as a 2008 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon winner.

Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 spokesman Greg Carson said the school’s award is a shining example of what can happen when everybody comes together as a team.

“The district is very, very proud of Bethune-Bowman. The students, the faculty the administration and the support staff have come together to do a wonderful job in terms of student achievement,” Carson said.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education. It recognizes public and private schools that are academically successful or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Other winners in the state include: Carver Elementary in Florence, Crestview Elementary in Greenville County, East End Elementary in Easley and Lake Carolina Elementary in Columbia.

Bethune-Bowman was nominated for the honor because it performed among the top 10 percent in test scores in the state. In addition, differences in student achievement between demographics subgroups were reduced.

All nominees were required to have made Adequate Yearly Progress under NCLB for the past three years to be eligible.

Principal Parrie Hook and a Bethune-Bowman teacher will be invited to the awards ceremonies in Washington on Oct. 20-21.

Bethune-Bowman will receive a plaque and a flag signifying NCLB Blue Ribbon School status.

Hook said. “We worked very hard over the last few years of going from unsatisfactory to excellent. It has been a team effort. With great community and parental support, we are offering a climate of high expectations. We feel children only live up to the expectations we have for them.”

This is the first time Bethune-Bowman has received the award.

Hook says the school has implemented programs in writing, SAT preparation, reading, math and has year-long enrichment classes.

“Our teachers have given of themselves by staying after school for children having difficulties,” she said. “More than anything else we don’t accept failure.”

The school received the Palmetto Gold Award for the past three years and was the only high school in the state to be featured on SCETV in 2008 for its excellent student academic achievement and steady improvement.

Earlier this year, the school was named as a Red Carpet School by S.C. Department of Education.

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