Metro earns national honor for work with 'disadvantaged' students

Metro Nashville's Rose Park Math and Science Magnet Middle School was named a 2009 Blue Ribbon School, one of only six Tennessee public schools to make the national list.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Tuesday the 314 schools that have earned the distinction.

Rose Park was the only public middle school in the state to make the list. It was named in the category of “Schools with Dramatically Improving Student Performance with at Least 40 percent of their Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds.”

For the past 27 years, the U.S. Department of Education has awarded Blue Ribbon honors to public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior, or have made dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close gaps in achievement among minority and disadvantaged students.

“We are humbled by the recognition that comes with this prestigious award,” said Rose Park Principal Risé Pope in a release. “This is wonderful news for our students, faculty, parents and community. We work very hard to make sure that all of our students receive a solid education and genuinely enjoy learning. With this award we will set even higher standards and will continue striving for excellence each and every day. ”