Eligibility Criteria

NCUST is pleased to announce our strongest group of finalists ever for the 2012 National Excellence in Urban Education Awards. Click here to read more about the finalist schools and how they are improving urban education across the nation.

The 2013 National Excellence in Urban Education Award Criteria are available in a draft version below. To apply next year please watch our website in mid-July 2012 for the 2013 NEUE application.

Questions may be directed by email to ncust@mail.sdsu.edu or by telephone to 619-594-8255.

Eligibility Criteria

2013 Draft Criteria Applicable to All Schools

1. Urban Location and Low-Income Students: The school must be located in a metropolitan area with a population of 50,000 or more residents. In addition, elementary schools must have at least 60% of their students from low income families; middle schools must have 50% or more low income families; and high schools can have no fewer than 40% low income families.

2. Non-Selective Admissions: The school may not require students to meet academic criteria in order to attain or retain admission. For example, a school that requires students to possess or maintain a minimum grade point average or pass an entrance test would not be eligible for consideration. In contrast, schools that only accept students who have experienced academic difficulty in other school setting will be considered eligible.

Back to Top

3. High Attendance Rates: The school must have evidence to indicate that the average student attendance rate exceeded 92% for each of the past two academic years.

4. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Data: Schools must submit AYP data for the last two years. Unlike prior years, applicants are not required to meet all AYP criteria. If schools did not meet all AYP criteria, they must specify which AYP criteria were not met.

5. High Rates of Academic Proficiency: The school must be able to demonstrate that the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency on state assessments, in both 2010 and 2011, in at least two academic subjects is higher than the average of all schools in the state (within the same grade span grouping). For example if across state X, 60% of middle school students demonstrated proficiency in English language arts and 58% demonstrated proficiency in mathematics, a middle school in state X could be eligible to compete for the NEUE Award if 60% or more of their students were proficient in English language arts and 58% or more of their students were proficient in mathematics. The school would need to exceed the state average in at least two subject areas in 2010 and 2011. Alternative schools within a state will be considered a separate grade-span grouping.

6. High Rates of Academic Proficiency for Every Racial/Ethnic Group: The school must present evidence of the percentage of students proficient in every racial/ethnic group with at least 20 students who had test scores. The school may be eligible to compete only if, in at least two academic subjects, the percentage of students proficient in each racial/ethnic group exceeds the average of all schools in the state (within the same grade span grouping). Using the example above, a middle school in state X would be eligible if the percentage of Asian, Black, Latino, and White students proficient in English language arts exceeded 60% and the percentage of Asian, Black, Latino, and White students proficient in mathematics exceeded 58%. Each racial/ethnic group must exceed the state average in at least two subject areas in 2010 and 2011.

Back to Top
7. Evidence of High Achievement for English Learners: If more than 20 students are identified as English learners, the school must present evidence that a high percentage of English learners are achieving proficiency with the English language. As well, the school must evidence that a high percentage of English learners are achieving greater proficiency in at least two academic subjects. Evidence must include the percentage of English learners demonstrating proficiency on state assessments, but might also include evidence of English learners demonstrating year-to-year achievement gains on state assessments or other indicators of success.

8. Evidence of High Achievement for Students with Disabilities: If more than 20 students are identified as students with disabilities, the school must present evidence that a high percentage of students with disabilities are achieving greater proficiency in at least two academic subjects. Evidence must include the percentage of students with disabilities demonstrating proficiency on state assessments, but might also include evidence of students with disabilities demonstrating year-to-year achievement gains on state assessments or other indicators of success.

9. Low Rates of Out-of-School Suspension: The total number of days students were out of school because of suspensions must be smaller than the total number of students enrolled. For example, if last year, 125 out-of-school suspensions occurred in a school and on average, each suspension lasted two days, this school could be eligible to compete if the school enrolled at least 251 students because there were a total of 250 out-of-school suspension days. Similarly, there must be a low rate of suspension for every racial/ethnic group of students. For example, if the enrollment of White students was 50, the total number of suspension days for White students would have to be less than 50.

10. Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM): Each school must present evidence that their students are developing strong levels of academic success in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. This evidence might include the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency of state assessments in mathematics or science. It might also include the percentage of students participating in or completing rigorous classes/programs designed to build strong knowledge and skills in STEM, the percentage of students participating in extra-curricular activities related to STEM fields, or the percentage of students participating in district or state-level competitions related to STEM fields.
Back to Top