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Florence
Elementary
2022 National Blue Ribbon Award
Friday, October 21
The zone celebration was held at the newly
completed multipurpose center at Florence High
School and honored students from Florence
Elementary and Steen’s Creek for their hard work
and achievement. FHS cheerleaders, dancers, band
members, city and county officials, as well as
distinguished alumni came together to celebrate
the students, staff, and teachers. Video messages
from former Florence students including Mississippi
Governor Tate Reeves wished the students well and
congratulated them on their award. It was a day to
celebrate teamwork – the successful coming together
of every student, teacher, staff member, parent and
community member.
Florence Elementary is one of only 297 schools
across the nation to be named a 2022 National Blue
Ribbon school by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel
Cardona for their exemplary achievement as a “Gap
Closing School.” According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, achievement gaps occur when
one group of students (e.g., students groups by race/
ethnicity, gender) outperforms another group, and
the difference in average scores for the groups is
statistically significant (i.e., larger than the margin of
error). In the case of FES, recognition was based on
their overall academic performance and progress in
closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
Florence Elementary’s Head Principal Amanda
Clark expressed gratitude for receiving the honor.
“On behalf of everyone at Florence Elementary
School, we are excited and honored to be awarded
the distinguished title of 2022 National Blue Ribbon
School. The achievement of this award is based on
teamwork from every student, teacher, staff member,
parent, and community member, working together to
find the best in every student! It is our goal to form
strong relationships, set high expectations, and work
together to create high levels of student achievement
for ALL,” said Clark.
Hometown RANKIN • 89