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Published: January 12 2012

Broward County Public Schools James S. Hunt Elementary School and William Dandy Middle School have been named finalists for the 2012 National Excellence in Urban Education Awards by the San Diego State University National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST).

The NCUST National Excellence in Urban Education Award program recognizes and celebrates the talent, dedication and hard work of educators and students in high-achieving urban schools. The award is given to urban schools with a proven track record of closing the achievement gap among all demographics.
        
Among the thousands of urban schools throughout the nation, 48 presented applications documenting that they met all the rigorous criteria for the National Excellence in Urban Education Award. Those 48 schools are the Center’s Honor Roll Schools for 2012. Among those 48 impressive schools, 27 schools, including Hunt Elementary and William Dandy Middle, presented superior evidence of excellence and were named finalists. William Dandy was also a finalist and winner of the award in 2008 and could become the first school to win this prestigious award twice.

 “While we have enjoyed the honor of awarding phenomenal schools each year since we initiated the program in 2006, in many respects, this was the most competitive field of applicants we have ever reviewed,” said Dr. Joseph F. Johnson, Jr., executive director for NCUST.  “Approximately 12 schools will be selected as 2012 award winners. This means that, while every finalist has achieved phenomenal successes, we will be able to award fewer than half of the finalists.”
        
A NCUST evaluation team will conduct one-day site visits to look for evidence of high achievement, rigorous curriculum, excellent instruction and enthusiastic engagement.  The schools found to have the greatest evidence of these elements will become winners of the National Excellence in Urban Education Award for 2012 and with it a cash award of $2,500. Winners will be announced at the Excellence in Urban Education National Symposium, May 23-25 in San Diego, CA.

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Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the nation's sixth largest public school system and the largest fully accredited district with over 258,000 students in 234 schools and education centers and 76 charter schools. For more information about BCPS, visit (www.browardschools.com). Follow BCPS on Twitter (@Browardschools). Find us on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/browardschools).