Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey (D-12th) was joined by President Toni Preckwinkle and his fellow County Board Commissioners in honoring Lane Tech College Prep High School for being named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School. At the Board meeting, Commissioner Fritchey presented Lane Tech’s principal, Dr. Christopher Dignam, with a resolution honoring the school’s accomplishment.

For decades, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized and honored the nation’s most successful public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on high student academic achievement and improvement. In order to qualify, all nominated public schools must make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in each of the two years prior to nomination, and must also make AYP for the year in which they are nominated.

On November 13, 2012, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will recognize 307 schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools for their overall academic excellence or for making progress in improving student academic achievement levels. Dr. Dignam, Lane Tech’s principal, will travel to Washington, D.C. to accept the award on behalf of the school.