Meng Announces New Blue Ribbon Schools in Queens

QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that several schools in Queens have been designated as Blue Ribbon Schools.

The schools were awarded the designation by the United States Department of Education and include four schools in Meng’s congressional district:

• P.S. 205, the Alexander Graham Bell School in Bayside which includes grades pre-K to 5.  
• P.S. 242, the Leonard P. Stavisky Early Childhood School in Flushing which includes grades pre-K to 3.
• P.S. 244, the Active Learning Elementary School (TALES) in Flushing which includes grades pre-K to 3.
• The Academy For Excellence Through The Arts (P.S. 303) in Forest Hills which includes grades pre-K to 5.

The National Blue Ribbon School program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools, and the recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.

“Being named a Blue Ribbon School is an outstanding achievement and I congratulate these local schools for attaining this prestigious recognition,” said Meng. “It underscores the hard work and dedication of the entire school team, and I am proud to have the schools in my congressional district and serving children in our communities. Our kids are our future, and their education must always be a top priority.”

For P.S. 205, P.S. 242 and P.S. 244, the designation marks the second time that they have been honored as a Blue Ribbon School.

The four schools are among 22 schools that were selected in all of New York State, and 353 schools chosen from across the nation. This year represents the 40th anniversary of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.