[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 175 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING D.C.'s 2021 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating three District of Columbia 
schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue 
Ribbon Schools.
  For the past 39 years, the Department of Education has recognized 
schools for overall academic excellence or for reducing achievement 
gaps. Since 1982, over 40 schools in the District have been recognized 
as National Blue Ribbon Schools. This year, BASIS DC Public Charter 
School, Eaton Elementary School and Lafayette Elementary School were 
selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
  BASIS DC Public Charter School, located in downtown near the 
Smithsonian museums, was established in 2012 and serves 640 students in 
grades 5-12. BASIS DC's school mascot is the Red Giants. Students at 
BASIS are proactive in attaining college scholarships. The total amount 
of college gift aid earned by the Class of 2017 was over $700,000. I 
applaud BASIS DC and its students for securing scholarships for college 
education and for its recognition this year as a National Blue Ribbon 
School.
  Located in Cleveland Park, Eaton Elementary School strives to provide 
a culturally enriching education for its diverse student body. 
Established in 1910, Eaton Elementary serves 467 students in grades PK-
5. Partnering with the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C., Eaton 
Elementary created its Student Sleuth Program, which allowed fourth-
grade students to learn grass-roots research in investigating their 
school's history. I applaud Eaton Elementary School for its recognition 
this year as a National Blue Ribbon School.
  Lafayette Elementary School, located in Chevy Chase, serves 940 
students in grades PK-5. Lafayette Elementary was established in 1928 
and emphasizes the importance of integrating the arts into all subject 
areas to enrich their students' learning experiences. I applaud 
Lafayette Elementary School for its recognition this year as a National 
Blue Ribbon School.
  Madam Speaker, again, I ask the House of Representatives to join me 
in congratulating BASIS DC Public Charter School, Eaton Elementary 
School and Lafayette Elementary School for their recognition as 
National Blue Ribbon Schools.

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