[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H6710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NORTH EAST BLUE RIBBON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend 
two schools in my district that were named this week as National Blue 
Ribbon Schools for 2015.
  The National Blue Ribbon Schools program was started by the United 
States Department of Education in 1982 and recognizes overall academic 
excellence or the success of the schools in closing achievement gaps in 
their student population.
  Youngsville High School in Warren County and North East High School 
in Erie County both received this honor. They are among less than 20 
schools in the State of Pennsylvania to be recognized, which is quite 
an accomplishment when you consider the many hundreds of schools in 
Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Overall, 285 public schools across 
the Nation received this honor.
  For Youngsville High School, this honor is many years in the making. 
The school has greatly improved its test scores and is using the 
collaboration of teachers, students, and staff, along with community 
members, to make sure its academic success continues to grow.
  In Erie County, administrators at the North East High School say that 
their learning model is built on heart, trust, and respect. School 
organizations such as National Honor Society, student council, and the 
school's Inspire group are intended to boost student performance in the 
classroom and highlight their service in the community.
  I know that the administrators for both the Youngsville and North 
East High Schools have worked for many months toward this goal. I 
congratulate them, their students, and teachers on this major 
accomplishment.

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