THE US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION NAMES THE NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
RECOGNIZED AS ‘EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENT GAP CLOSING’ SCHOOL
Santa Fe, NM, September 28, 2016 — Today, the US Secretary of Education John B King named the New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School. Among the three New Mexico schools named, the NMSA is the only high school to receive this honor.
The US Secretary of Education recognized NMSA as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing school, for making significant progress in closing achievement gaps among the school’s student subgroups and all students. The state department of education nominated NMSA for the award and NMSA completed a rigorous application process about school practices. As a Title I school, NMSA provides access and opportunity to students from more than 60 communities throughout the state.
“We are humbled to be recognized for the innovative educational practices we use to close the achievement gap,” said Cindy Montoya, Head of School. “As we expand to our new campus, we look forward to opening our doors to more New Mexico students, and sharing best practices with our fellow public schools.”
Head of School Cindy Montoya, Eric Crites, and Arts Coordinator Joey Chavez will represent NMSA at a two-day awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. to celebrate this hard-won achievement. The National Blue Ribbon award flag will be flown at NMSA’s campus as a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
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NMSA provides access to a rigorous mastery arts and academic high school education for youth with passion and aptitude in the arts, leading to post-secondary learning, careers in the arts, and lives that contribute to society.
NMSA is currently in the early phases of fundraising to construct our new campus in the Santa Fe Railyard. Once built, the school will be able to enroll more New Mexico students and provide greater access to our innovative programing. NMSA was created by the State of New Mexico and looks forward to continued partnership with the State.
NMSA is a public/private partnership comprised of the NMSA-Art Institute, a nonprofit art educational institution and NMSA High School. NMSA’s purpose is to provide the highest standards of excellence in preparing New Mexico’s artistically talented students to compete nationally for places at post-secondary education institutions or to pursue professional careers in the arts. NMSA offers pre-professional instruction in the performing and visual arts and rigorous academics leading to a high school diploma. NMSA is located in the former St. Francis Cathedral School, 275 East Alameda in Santa Fe. For more information, visit: www.NMSchoolForTheArts.org.