UPPER WEST SIDE — Popular Upper West Side elementary school P.S. 199 was one of only six New York City schools — and the lone one in Manhattan — granted a National Blue Ribbon School Award this week.
A total of 286 private and public schools across the country received the honor this year, said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
"These great American schools earned this recognition because their students are achieving at the highest levels in their states or because their students are making outstanding improvements in their level of academic achievement," Duncan said in a statement.
The award confers accolades, a plaque, a special flag to fly above the West 70th Street school and a trip to D.C. for school representatives, but no grant money or other support.
P.S. 199, lead by Principal Katy Rosen, achieved an A grade in student academic performance from the Department of Education in the 2011-'12 school year, the most recently available data.
On the most recent 2013 Common Core tests, 66 percent of the school's third graders passed the state English test, while 70 percent passed the math test. Seventy-nine percent of fourth- and fifth-graders passed the English test, with more than 83 percent of fourth-graders and 81 percent of fifth-graders passing the math — all well above the citywide averages.
"P.S. 199 Jessie Isador Straus in Manhattan achieved this distinction because of its all-around academic excellence and success in preparing students for college and careers," said Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott in a statement.
"We congratulate Principal Katy Rosen, and P.S. 199’s students, teachers, and parents for receiving this honor. It’s a testament to all of their hard work and dedication to student achievement."
PTA co-president Eric Shuffler was ecstatic over the honor.
"We are really excited and proud. It reflects the outstanding work and effort our teachers, staff and kids put in everyday," he said.
Also winning the award were P.S. 222 Katherine R. Snyder School and P.S. 247 in Brooklyn; and P.S. 66 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, P.S. 221 The North Hills School, and P.S. 46 The Alley Pond School in Queens.
