The City of St. Charles School District is thrilled to announce that Lincoln Elementary School has been named a National ESEA Distinguished School by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators.
This remarkable achievement was unveiled to the school's dedicated staff by Dr. Sefrit, superintendent of schools, and Julie Williams, Principal of Lincoln Elementary, during a morning briefing on November 29th, marking a momentous occasion in the school's history. Lincoln Elementary stands out as one of the few select institutions nationwide to receive this prestigious recognition for their outstanding student achievement in 2023 and is one of only two schools in the St. Louis region to be selected for this award (Cleveland NJROTC Academy in 2014).
“Lincoln Elementary truly is a special place to be,” said Dr. Sefrit. “You can feel it the second you walk through the doors. The school is a cornerstone of our community and we are very proud of the amazing work that is done here to improve the lives of our students and families.”
This is the second national award that has been bestowed upon Lincoln Elementary in recent years as the school was named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools award winner by the U.S. Department of Education.
“Recognitions such as this are the culmination of hard work and dedication from our entire staff,” Williams said. “Our school’s motto is ‘Ubuntu’ meaning ‘I am because we are’. Our goal isn’t to chase scores or to win awards; it is to come together as one to serve our students mentally, physically and emotionally. When you do that, everything falls into place.”
The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is a prestigious national initiative that publicly honors qualifying federally funded schools for their exceptional academic accomplishments. It serves as a testament to the relentless dedication and unwavering commitment of schools across the nation that strive for significant improvements in student outcomes.
Since its establishment in 1996, this program has continued to spotlight the successes of numerous educational institutions, placing them in one of three distinguished categories:
Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth, as determined by each state.
Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups, as determined by each state.
Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g., homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.).
The City of St. Charles School District takes immense pride in celebrating the well-deserved recognition that Lincoln Elementary has achieved. This award not only reflects the dedication of the school's faculty and staff but also exemplifies the commitment to excellence that is deeply ingrained in the City of St. Charles School District as a whole.
“We have amazing things going on in the City of St. Charles School District,” Dr. Sefrit said. “Lincoln Elementary serves as a beacon for that great work and showcases it to the entire country.”
