Two Alief ISD schools are among 26 public schools in the entire state of Texas to be nominated for national Blue Ribbon Schools recognition. Alief Early College High School and Kerr High School were recently notified that they have been nominated for national Blue Ribbon recognition. It is very rare for a district to have multiple campuses nominated.

Alief Early College High School and Kerr High School were selected as exemplary high performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), each of the nominated schools has an economically disadvantaged population of 20 percent or greater. Alief Early College High School has an economically disadvantaged rate of 77.3 percent while Kerr High School has an economically disadvantaged rate of 60.4 percent. Both are much higher than other schools that have been nominated.

“It is very difficult for a campus to even be nominated for national Blue Ribbon recognition, especially a high school.” said HD Chambers, superintendent of schools. “The fact that there are two high schools from our district nominated for this recognition is a testament to the excellent work that everyone performs every day. I am proud of the students, teachers and staff at both of these schools.”

“I’m very proud to be nominated for this prestigious recognition. This year marks our fourth graduating class and I think credit goes all the way back to the leadership of the district that established Alief Early College High School as well as students that were in that first graduating class,” said Kerry Beth Johnson, principal at Alief Early College High School. “This nomination is validation of the excellent work done here and the support we’ve received from the district.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels.

“It is an honor to be nominated by the Texas Education Agency for the Blue Ribbon Schools recognition,” said Greg Freeman, principal at Kerr High School. “This nomination is a reflection of the hard work our staff and students put in on a daily basis. It is also a reflection of the outstanding teachers and students we have not only here at Kerr but in the district as a whole.”