Olmito Elementary Named U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School

Olmito Elementary was named as one of 335 schools across the country as a National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday.

Students and staff from Olmito Elementary were notified of the honor at a pep rally at the school cafeteria.

Blue Ribbon Schools are the U.S. Department of Education’s highest honor. They are recognized for academic excellence and closing the achievement gap.

“These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American education,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education.
Twenty-five schools in Texas were selected, including four from the Rio Grande Valley. The four are the first to be chosen from the Valley since 2011.

“It was hard work, collaboration, and years of collective data for the last five years that we have maintained a high level of performance,” said Linda Rodriguez, principal of Olmito Elementary.

During her comments, Rodriguez thanked the previous principals at Olmito Elementary whose leadership laid the groundwork for the Blue Ribbon award. They included Superintendent Gonzalo Salazar (2004-05), Adrian Dorsett (2006-07), and Assistant Superintendent for Academics Valarie Londrie (2007-13). Rodriguez has been principal since 2013.

Olmito Elementary and the other 334 schools will be honored at a recognition ceremony Nov. 9-10 in Washington, D.C.