Rio Americano High School , colloquially known as Rio , is a public high school in Arden-Arcade, California , just outside Sacramento , serving students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the San Juan Unified School District . Rio Americano students come from the surrounding areas of Arden Park, Arden Oaks, Sierra Oaks, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Gold River, and to a much lesser extent, the La Sierra community. In recent years, more students have been transferring from other districts and areas, partly due to the shift of Sacramento High School to a charter school . Rio's two rival schools are Jesuit High School and El Camino Fundamental High School because of the schools' close proximity.
31-639: As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,884 students. Cliff Kelly is the principal. Christopher Hauger, Jennifer Dalton and Gina Jackson are the vice principals. During the 1994–96 and 2006–07 school years, Rio Americano High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education , the highest award an American school can receive. In 2008 Newsweek ranked Rio as number 595 on their list of
62-688: A for-profit company which had appropriated the Blue Ribbon School name. During its first 25 years of existence, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award was granted approximately 5,600 times, recognizing 5,200 different schools. (Some schools have been selected two or more times.) More than 133,000 public, charter, private and parochial schools serving grades K 12 are eligible for the award. More than 9,000 schools have been honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools — with more than 10,000 awards given in total — since
93-548: A "rising tide" of mediocre schools that threatened the nation's future. Secretary Bell created the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award to bring exceptional U.S. schools to public attention and to recognize those schools whose students thrived and excelled. Working with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals , Bell launched
124-456: A state liaison which schools must contact for nomination. The program has also been criticized for assessment of schools coming from the school itself rather than an independent third party and a nomination and assessment process that favors schools with the know-how and resources to complete the review assessment. National Association of Secondary School Principals The National Association of Secondary School Principals ( NASSP )
155-473: Is a United States Department of Education award program that recognizes exemplary public and non-public schools on a yearly basis. Using standards of excellence evidenced by student achievement measures, the Department honors high-performing schools and schools that are making great strides in closing any achievement gaps between students. The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for administering
186-512: Is a national organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals , assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The association currently serves more than 27,000 members. In existence since 1916, NASSP's mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. In February 2011 the organization replaced its old logo. The new logo returns to
217-541: Is a year-round program that places students in a courtroom environment in which they act the parts of attorneys, witnesses, court clerks and bailiffs, in order to better their knowledge in the field of law. Each year the Team participates in competitions organized through the Constitutional Rights Foundations. Rio Americano's Mock Trial Team is known for its continuous record of success at both
248-488: Is directly related to long-term school improvement efforts, so this framework is readily applicable to any grade level, K–12 . This is the sixth publication of the Breaking Ranks series. NASSP annually recognizes principals, assistant principals, schools, students, and advisers from across the country for their leadership and for making positive, significant differences in schools and communities. NASSP promotes
279-621: Is restricted. David W. Kirkpatrick, the Senior Education Fellow at the US Freedom Foundation, noted in an editorial titled, "Awarding Blue Ribbons: Recognizing Schools or Students?" that criteria for the awards do not take into account the socioeconomic status of the students and that studies show that students who come from homes with higher income and better educated parents do better than students without these advantages by virtue of their backgrounds. Thus,
310-766: The Breaking Ranks Framework. The core areas include collaborative leadership; personalization; and curriculum , instruction, and assessment. More specifically, nominated schools must demonstrate continuous growth on state assessments (and improved graduation rates among high schools), efforts to reduce the achievement gap, and have a student body consisting of 40% or more eligible for free or reduced price meals . Additional factors impacting consideration include equity of student participation in challenging courses, personal learning plans for all students, school/community connections, and leadership development/mentoring. From 2008 to 2014, selected schools received
341-650: The Breakthrough High Schools program recognized schools that were defying the odds and succeeding despite predictors of low student achievement. The Bridge Builders program recognized middle level and high school principals who had implemented proven strategies to create connections between their faculty and surrounding communities. From 2008 to 2014, Breakthrough Schools program annually recognized 10 US middle and high schools that serve large numbers of students living in poverty and are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement. Although
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#1732797747760372-454: The Council for American Private Education nominate eligible schools for the annual award. Eligible schools must demonstrate high or strongly improving student scores on state or nationally normed assessments in the last year tested; schools must also make Annual Yearly Progress in accordance with No Child Left Behind . Nominated schools submit applications describing school operations such as
403-538: The County and State level Competitions. The Team has won 13 Sacramento County Championships: 1980, 1982, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2021. From 1979-2021, the coach of Rio's Mock Trial Team is local attorney James "Jay" R. Greiner. In 2017, the team placed 3rd in the Sacramento County competition. In 2018, the team placed 2nd in the Sacramento County competition. In 2021
434-959: The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which is supported through ongoing collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Association for Middle Level Education , and the National Association of Secondary School Principals . Since the program's founding in 1982, the award has been presented to more than 9,000 schools. National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the full diversity of American schools: public schools including Title I schools , charter schools , magnet schools , and non-public schools including parochial and independent schools . The schools are urban, suburban, and rural, large and small, traditional and innovative, and serve students of every social, economic, and ethnic background. In 1982, then-Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell , best known for commissioning A Nation at Risk , described
465-678: The National Blue Ribbon Schools and the National Distinguished Principals Programs. Both programs highlighted outstanding models of American schools and school leadership. Initially, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program honored only secondary schools ; it was later expanded to include primary schools . It was changed again to honor secondary schools and primary schools in alternate years and now honors secondary, middle, elementary, and K-8 and K-12 schools each year. In 2003,
496-634: The areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character (and citizenship for NJHS). These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since their beginnings in 1921 and 1929. NASSP is the parent organization for both NHS and NJHS. The National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) was established in 2008 by NASSP in cooperation with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) to recognize elementary students in both public and non-public elementary schools for their outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated personal responsibility, to provide meaningful service to
527-468: The award is usually given to schools with students from wealthy backgrounds. As evidence to support his case, he pointed to the distribution of awards given in Pennsylvania one year; of the eight schools receiving the award, only one was in a district whose income level was near the state average, and the rest went to districts with an above average income, including two in the wealthiest communities in
558-509: The award within the five prior years. Must have excellence in the fields of academics, arts, and athletics. Although at one time schools self-nominated for the award, this is no longer the case. At the invitation of the U.S. Secretary of Education, Chief State School Officers, including Washington, D.C. , the Department of Defense Education Activity , the Bureau of Indian Education , and
589-472: The initials NASSP and adopts the tagline "Leading Schools". The association is now extending its support of the principal by providing resources and professional development for the whole leadership team. NASSP aims to help advance middle level and high school education by promoting high professional standards, focusing attention on school leaders' challenges, providing a "national voice" for school leaders, building public confidence in education, strengthening
620-496: The intellectual growth, academic achievement, character and leadership development, and physical well-being of youth. The association founded and administers the following student leadership programs to further these goals. The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation's leading organizations established to recognize outstanding high school and middle-level students. NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in
651-573: The opportunity for students to become effective leaders, thus encouraging and influencing a positive school climate. NatStuCo is a program of NASSP. Its operation and administration are at the national office in Reston, VA. An Advisory Committee—whose membership includes students, advisers, and principals appointed by the NASSP Board of Directors—provides input and advice to NatStuCo staff. NatStuCo seeks to promote civil service among students within
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#1732797747760682-421: The program was paused in 2015 and 2016, in 2017, NASSP reevaluated the 39 Breakthrough Schools recognized between 2011 and 2014 and found that 26 of the schools had continuously sustained their student achievement, and redesignated them as Breakthrough Schools. Winners are chosen based on a school's documented success in implementing strategies aligned with the three core areas of NASSP's school improvement model,
713-552: The program was restructured to bring it in line with the No Child Left Behind Education Law , placing a stronger emphasis on state assessment data and requiring schools to demonstrate high academic success. Schools must show how data are interpreted and used and how curriculum, instruction, professional development, and student support promote student success. In 2012 the program was renamed the National Blue Ribbon Schools program to distinguish it from
744-659: The program's inception. States, territories, the Bureau of Indian Affairs , and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools have joined the competition over the years. Special emphases have changed from year to year based on national priorities. Among National Blue Ribbon Schools there is much diversity: the award recognizes rural, urban, and suburban schools; large and small schools, and public and non-public schools. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program accepts nominations from both public and non-public schools that meet one of two criteria: Eligible schools must have been in existence for five years and cannot have received
775-403: The role of the principal as instructional leader, and publicizing the issues and interests of members in the news media. In 2011 NASSP released Breaking Ranks: The Comprehensive Framework for School Improvement , which emphasizes flexibility and adaptability to different school contexts and aims to foster a customized solution unique to each school to improve student achievement. Student success
806-451: The school and community, and to develop essential leadership skills in the students of elementary schools. The National Student Council (NatStuCo), formerly the National Association of Student Councils (NASC), was established in 1931 with the goal of helping middle level and high school student councils become more effective organizations. NatStuCo seeks to provide a valuable leadership partnership between students and their school. It creates
837-474: The school and community. The organization provides leadership training for student council members and advisers. Each year, NatStuCo hosts a national conference for activities directors and students across the country. The conference features youth motivational speakers and workshop presenters. In 2007, NASSP received a grant from MetLife Foundation and merged two programs, Breakthrough High Schools and Bridge Builders, to form Breakthrough Schools. Previously,
868-456: The state. While Kirkpatrick proposed an alternative to recognizing "blue ribbon students", he wrote, "...a more accurate indication of a good school would be one that adjusts for such socioeconomic factors and identifies those in which students do better than would normally be expected, based on their backgrounds." From the program's inception through 2003, schools were permitted to nominate themselves. As of 2003, nominations are handled through
899-649: The team won the Sacramento County competition. Science Bowl is an academic competition sponsored by the United States Department of Energy that tests students in various categories of Science including Biology , Chemistry , Physics , Space Science , Earth Science , Energy , and Mathematics . Rio won the Sacramento Regional Competition in 1992 and competed in the national tournament in Washington, DC . Blue Ribbon Schools Program The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
930-445: The top 1,300 public schools in the United States. In 2013, Rio Americano held an Academic Performance Index (API) of 823. Rio Americano produces a handful of National Merit commended students and a few National Merit semifinalists each year. Rio students also perform well on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with over 400 AP exam scores of 3 or better and over 100 AP exam scores of 5 (the highest score possible) in 2009. Mock Trial
961-504: The use of assessments and assessment data, instructional methods, curricula, professional development, leadership, and community and family involvement. A total of 420 schools may be nominated in any year; state quotas are determined by the number of students and schools. The Blue Ribbon award is considered the highest honor an American school can achieve. A school's use of the National Blue Ribbon Schools logo