Three Houston Independent School District schools have been nominated for the U.S. Department of Education’s prestigious 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools award.

High School for Law and Justice (HSLJ), Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA), and Memorial Elementary School – all first-time nominees – are among 26 schools in Texas to be nominated by the Texas Education Agency.

“I applaud the dedication and work ethic of the students, parents, teachers, staff, and principals at each of our nominated campuses,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “These schools are proof that closing achievement gaps and creating high-performing academic environments districtwide is our commitment in HISD.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award is given annually to showcase the hard work of students and educators on campuses that demonstrate academic excellence or exemplary progress in closing achievement gaps among subpopulations.

HSLJ is a unique magnet school that offers students rigorous academics in conjunction with the exploration and in-depth study of law enforcement and criminal justice professions. HSLJ students take vocational classes at each grade level at the school’s state-of-the-art building, which features a courtroom, crime scene investigation labs, an emergency communications center, and a law library.

“It is an honor to be nominated for this prominent award,” HSLJ Principal Stacy Garcia said. “Our students, staff, and entire community are dedicated to creating a culture of excellence and we would be thrilled to receive the designation.”

As one of two single-gender schools in HISD, YWCPA serves grades 6-12 and is designed to allow female students to learn in a unique learning environment. YWCPA’s magnet program focuses on college readiness a well as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). All core curriculum classes are Pre-Advanced Placement or Advanced Placement, offering students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school.

“Being nominated for a National Blue Ribbon award is a huge testament to our entire team, especially our students,” YWCPA Principal April Williams said. “Our expectations are high, and our students and teachers put in the work needed to meet and maintain Blue Ribbon standards.”

Memorial Elementary serves students in Pre-K through fifth grade and offers Gifted and Talented (GT) and Dual Language programs. 

“We are humbled and inspired to be nominated for the Blue Ribbon Award,” Principal Maria Garcia said. “This recognition is a testament to our entire staff, who works tirelessly to ensure our students are receiving the world-class education they deserve.”

Nominated schools must now complete a rigorous process of submitting achievement data and essays about their instructional methods to the U.S. Department of Education.

National Blue Robbin award winners will be announced in September.

For more on High School for Law and Justice, click here.

For more on Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, click here.

For more on Memorial Elementary School, click here.