Press Release: Two Maryland Title I Schools Receive National Honors

Schools In Baltimore City And Prince George's County Named Title I Distinguished Schools

For Immediate Release                                                      Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486


Baltimore, MD (January 27, 2014)

Two Maryland elementary schools have been named National Title I Distinguished Schools for the 2013-2014 school year. 

New Song Academy in Baltimore City and Robert R. Gray Elementary School in Prince George’s County are among the Title I schools from across the U.S. that will be honored by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of State Title I Directors in a special ceremony in San Diego, California, on February 2-5, 2014.

The Maryland State Board of Education will recognize these two schools at their upcoming meeting on February 25, 2014.

Title I is the largest federal aid program in K-12 education.  Schools use Title I funds to improve the education of all students in high poverty areas.  MSDE administers Maryland’s Title I program and nominated the two schools after a thorough review of student achievement data based on the Maryland School Assessments.

New Song Academy in West Baltimore City scored the highest in Category 1—exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years.  The school serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grades with 97% of its students receiving free lunch.  New Song Academy is committed to developing the leadership potential of each student while providing them with a quality education and continues to support their students through their high school years.

Robert R. Gray Elementary School in Capitol Heights of Prince George’s County scored the highest in Category 2—closing the achievement gap between student groups.  Robert R. Gray serves students from pre-k through grade 6 and seeks to enhance the academic and social growth of all its students by teaching responsibility, accountability, cooperation, and a respect for self and others.