Cashell ES Selected as Maryland Blue Ribbon School

December 11, 2013

Cashell Elementary School has been selected as a 2014 Maryland Blue Ribbon School by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The school, which serves the Rockville and Olney areas, will now compete to become the 37th National Blue Ribbon School in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

“Cashell Elementary School is doing exceptional work to meet the educational needs of all its students and this award recognizes that dedicated effort,” said Superintendent of Schools Joshua P. Starr. “Congratulations to the staff, students, and community of Cashell. They are an outstanding representative of the excellent work and collaboration that is happening throughout our district every day.”

The Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes and honors schools that exhibit high performance and/or significant improvement in reading and mathematics achievement as measured by Maryland assessments. Schools must meet other rigorous standards developed by MSDE and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), including school leadership, professional development, and instructional approaches based on school-age population.

Principal Maureen Ahern-Stamoulis was in Baltimore when State Superintendent of Schools Lillian M. Lowery made the announcement.

“I am so proud of our students and staff and so grateful for the support we receive from our parents and our community, Ms. Ahern-Stamoulis said. “We appreciate this recognition from the state and will continue to offer our students our very best every day.”

Cashell was one of six 2014 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Other winners are Frost Elementary School in Allegany County; Linthicum Elementary School in Anne Arundel County; Western School of Technology and Environmental Science in Baltimore County; Northern Garrett High School in Garrett County; and Robert Goddard French Immersion Elementary/Middle School in Prince George’s County.

Cashell Elementary School serves 326 students from Pre-K through Grade 5, and has four classes serving 3-to-11-year-old students with special needs. Students have scored at high levels on the Maryland School Assessments (MSA) for the last several years. In 2013, more than 95 percent of the students were proficient in reading, with 52 percent scoring in the advanced range. In mathematics, more than 95 percent of Cashell students were proficient, with 60 percent scoring in the advanced range. In addition to a strong academic program, Cashell has a strong integrated arts program. The arts team collaborates on several student productions throughout the year, and the Cashell chorus has performed in several Washington, D.C. venues, including the Cherry Blossom Parade.

As a state winner, Cashell Elementary School will now compete in the National Blue Ribbon Awards program. The National Blue Ribbon Schools will be announced in September 2014 by the U.S. Department of Education. MCPS has 36 National Blue Ribbon Schools, the most recent being Robert Frost Middle School in 2013.

Cashell Elementary and the other winning schools will receive a Maryland Blue Ribbon flag, a monetary prize, an interactive whiteboard and a schoolwide pizza party. A dinner in Annapolis will be held in honor of the winning schools next spring.

Cashell Elementary School

State Press Release

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