Southern High School Recognized with Prestigious National Honor for Excellence in Educational Achievement

WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that Southern High School in Harwood, MD is one of the 314 private and public schools across the country - and 10 in the State of Maryland - to be recognized as a 2009 Blue Ribbon School. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are academically superior or have shown dramatic improvement in student achievement to high levels.

"I want to congratulate Southern High School for its exceptional service to our area's students, which has earned it such a remarkable distinction among schools across the country," Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD). "The teachers, administrators, and students should all be commended for elevating the performance of Southern HS to a level deserving of such a prestigious honor."

Of public high schools recognized nationally, Southern HS was also one of only 39 public high schools and one of only two Maryland public high schools. Southern HS will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC on November 2-3 along with the other Blue Ribbon designees. Both the principal of the school - Maryalice Todd - and one teacher will be invited to receive a Blue Ribbon Schools plaque and a flag to signify its status.

"Southern HS is a community school where students, teachers, parents, and businesses all come together to excel academically," said Southern Principal Maryalice Todd. "We're about developing life-long learners who set high expectations and make responsible decisions in order to promote academic success. That's the mission of Southern HS."

All recognized schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation and details of their achievements are shared on the U.S. Department of Education's website. For more information, click HERE.