[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22106]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TO RECOGNIZE THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
           FOR BEING NAMED A 2009 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology for being 
designated a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School. In 2009, 314 schools 
from 47 states were named National Blue Ribbon Schools. Thomas 
Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is one of only two 
high schools from Virginia so honored for 2009 and in fact, is the only 
public high school in the Commonwealth to receive this prestigious 
designation.
   The National Blue Ribbon School Program began in 1982 as part of a 
larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate 
knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. Since 
the program's inception, over 6,150 American schools have received this 
coveted award. This award honors public and private elementary, middle 
and high schools that are either academically superior or have made 
dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close gaps in 
achievement among minority and disadvantaged students.
   Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has a long 
history of academic excellence. It has fielded more National Merit 
Semifinalists than any other high school in America for most of the 
1990s and 2000s. From 2000 to 2005, it fielded more United States of 
America Mathematical Olympiad qualifiers than any other high school in 
America and has a distinguished history of U.S. Physics Olympiad Team 
members and medal winners. In 2007 the school had more Intel Science 
Talent Search Semifinalists (14) than any other school and in 2009, 
this feat was repeated with 15 semifinalists.
   Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was ranked 
as the top high school in the nation by PrepReview in 2004. In that 
same year, it had the highest average SAT score among all American high 
schools, both public and private.
  It was also ranked number 1 among ``America's Best High Schools'' in 
a study by U.S. News and World Report in 2007 and again in 2008. For 
schools with more than 800 students in grades 10-12, TJHSST was cited 
as having the highest-performing AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP 
French Language, AP Government and Politics: U.S., and AP U.S. History 
courses among all schools worldwide.
   It is fitting that Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and 
Technology can now add its designation as a National Blue Ribbon School 
to their extensive list of other extraordinary achievements.
   Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology on receiving 
this honor. I also ask my colleagues to join me in thanking the 
principal, Dr. Evan Glazer along with the entire staff, student body 
and their families for their commitment to excellence in education.

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