Carrollton, Texas (Sept. 24, 2020) — U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, today recognized the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD's Early College High School (ECHS) as a 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools, based on the school's high academic performance. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms educators’, families’, and communities' hard work in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 9,000 schools. The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores, and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's student groups and all students.

"The Early College High School staff, in partnership with Dallas College, has created a long-lasting transformative educational experience that drives inspiration, innovation, and dedication," said Timothy A. Isaly, Principal. "Collectively, the students, parents, faculty and community partners have worked very hard to earn this distinction."

Early College High School enrolls approximately 340 students in grades 9-12 and is a repeat award recipient having earned the honor in 2014. ECHS graduates received more than $8 million in scholarship awards last year with over 80% of the graduating class earning an associate degree of Arts or Science.

To select National Blue Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Education requested nominations from the top education officials in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools.

A complete list of the 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.