Carderock Springs Elementary School was among six schools honored at a state dinner March 8 in celebration of their status as Maryland's No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools. Carderock Springs was named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of Excellence for 2003 last fall.

Governor Robert Ehrlich, State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, and other leaders honored the six schools at the state dinner. Following the dinner, Carderock Springs Principal Linda Jackson Jones and other winning principals were recognized on the floor of the Maryland House and Senate.

The Maryland schools were selected on the basis of the new national award criteria for the Blue Ribbon Program that identifies both high-performing schools and schools that have made significant gains in communities heavily impacted by poverty.

Carderock Springs and two other schools were selected from among the top 10 percent of Maryland elementary schools as measured by Maryland assessments. Another three schools, described as economically disadvantaged, were selected on the basis of having demonstrated significant improvements on the state assessments over a period of at least three years.

In addition to receiving Maryland's Blue Ribbon Flag of Excellence, the six schools will compete nationally in the U.S. Department of Education's No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program.