Schools To Have Obama Speak At Graduation

The White House and the Department of Education announced today the six high schools selected as finalists for the first annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. The Commencement Challenge, launched in late February, invited the nation’s public high schools to submit applications showing their dedication to providing students with an excellent education that will prepare them to graduate ready for college and career choices. Applications were judged based on the schools performance, four essay questions and supplemental data. The six finalists were selected for their dedication to academic excellence and for showing how they are helping prepare students to graduate college and career ready, and prepared to meet the President’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

The finalists are:

· Blue Valley Northwest High School (Overland Park, Kansas)

· Clark Montessori Junior High and High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)

· Denver School of Science and Technology (Denver, Colorado)

· Environmental Charter High School (Lawndale, California)

· Kalamazoo Central High School (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

· MAST Academy (Miami, Florida)

“I thank all of the schools that submitted applications for the first Commencement Challenge and I congratulate the six finalists for demonstrating effective approaches to teaching, learning and preparing students to graduate ready for college and a career,” said President Obama. “The quality of the applications we received is a testament to the exciting work happening in schools throughout the country, and I look forward to visiting and speaking at the winning school later this spring.”

View the responses here.

President Obama is also scheduled to speak at Hampton University's 2010 Commencement.

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