MERIDEN –– U.S. Sec. of Education Miguel Cardona began his teaching career as a fourth grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School and this week he made another connection to the school by announcing it was in the 2024 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools.

The elementary school is one of only three schools in Connecticut to receive this recognition and among 356 nationwide. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards.

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“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” Cardona said in the announcement. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”

The school was honored as one of the "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools," which excel in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body.

Principal Enza Adamcewicz emphasized that the school has concentrated its efforts on enhancing instruction to boost students' test scores in English and math.

“We achieved this by prioritizing instruction and feedback,” Adamcewicz said. “We focused on identifying our students’ strengths as well as the areas where they needed support.”

Adamcewicz noted that the school provides after-school activities and tutoring for students who may be struggling. Additionally, teachers offer virtual tutoring sessions through Google Meet, available both before and after school to further support their students.

This school earned a "School of Distinction" status for two consecutive years due to strong academic growth, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In a statement, the department noted Israel Putnam was in the top 10 percent of schools in terms of growth for students with high needs and for all students and students with high needs in mathematics for the 2022-2023 school year. On average, students achieved about 88 percent of their growth targets in mathematics. The 2022-2023 growth scores in mathematics were the highest to date for this school.

Meriden Public Schools now has six Blue Ribbon Schools, according to Mayor Kevin Scarpati.

“This is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated staff and administration across MPS, and our commitment to work with students and families in prioritizing education throughout our community,” he wrote in a statement.