Baltimore County Public School Earns Prestigious Award

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --- As the holiday approaches, some Maryland schools are decked in red and green, but a handful are using blue ribbons. This week the state unveiled its 2015 blue ribbon schools.

Gigi Barnett reports on how five elementary and on high school are on the list.

Christmas comes early for Miss Scheeler's second grade class at Pine Grove Elementary in Baltimore County.

"You may open up your envelopes," Scheeler said.

Inside the envelopes are tiny blue ribbons, which are a nod to the prestigious award the school just earned.

Pine Grove is one of six state blue ribbon schools for 2015. It was a big surprise for the students.

"It's just been a joyous week for me to get ready to see their faces when we told them that they were a blue ribbons school," Pine Grove Elementary's principal, Jean Wilson said.

Principal Wilson started working at the school six years ago. Since then, test scores have sky-rocketed, especially among students who receive free and reduced lunch. Also, the school's autism program is a model in Maryland.

"This school does tremendous things for children day in and day out," Wilson said. "The teachers treat the children as if they were their own."

Pine Grove is Baltimore County's only state blue ribbon school. Anne Arundel County has two. Frederick County has one. The other two are in Harford County and Washington County.

Pine Grove students say they know what a blue ribbon means for their school.

"Mommy also explained it to me too. She said, she said it's really good to be a blue ribbon school. That means that you get to.. it's a good place to learn," second grader at Pine Grove Elementary, Molly Frey said.

Now Pine Grove and the other five state blue ribbons schools will advance to the national blue ribbon competition.

Each school gets a congratulations party, $1,000 in office supplies and interactive technology equipment.

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