Even Ashburton Elementary, which has seen test scores rise in recent years, may be a poor example for others, Loveless said, because only 59.4 percent of its third-graders show satisfactory reading scores on a 1999 state test. According to Ashburton's Blue Ribbon application, the school's reading scores have been adversely affected by a high rate of student turnover, 29.4 percent, and students needing special education services, 19.6 percent. Area school districts have sharply contrasting views on the value of the program. But in the Virginia suburbs, only 10 have won. No public schools in Loudoun County, Prince William County or the area's largest district, Fairfax County, have ever won.
Fairfax officials say that policy still stands.
And some principals of schools that would be likely candidates for the award say they don't have time to apply. We would much rather, needless to say, put the work into what we are doing. I would just feel uncomfortable asking staff to put in that kind of effort. Bernard Gross, who has been principal of Fairfax's Cooper Middle School for 10 years, said he supports the anti-Blue Ribbon policy. It is more of an endurance test with the paperwork.