Buckingham Elementary was the only school in Maryland to receive National Title I Distinguished School honors in 2017 and a celebration took place in Berlin on Monday morning.

By Kara Hallissey, Staff Writer

(March 1, 2017) Along with 63 other academic institutions throughout the nation, Buckingham Elementary was the only school in Maryland to receive National Title I Distinguished School honors in 2017.

A celebration took place at Buckingham Elementary in Berlin on Monday morning. All schools were honored during the 2018 National Title I Conference in Philadelphia on Feb. 9.

Students received medals, a visit from their mascot, “Bucky,” and cupcakes at lunch to celebrate the award this week.

“I am proud of every single person in this room,” Buckingham Elementary Principal Karen Marx said.

For two consecutive years, Buckingham Elementary has achieved exceptional student performance. In addition, significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups and excellence in serving special populations of students such as homelessness or English learners were also requirements for the award.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. John Quinn thanked students, parents, administrators, counselors and teachers for being “innovators” and their “ability to try new things.”

“At the end of every decision, we ask, ‘is this good for kids,’” Quinn said.

He listed after-school and writing programs, new technologies and teaching students with disabilities as some of the highlights taking place at Buckingham Elementary.

Berlin Mayor Gee Williams dubbed Buckingham Elementary students “America’s coolest kids in America’s coolest small town.”

Buckingham Elementary is the second school in Worcester County to receive this distinction. Pocomoke Elementary was bestowed the honor last year.

The National Title I Association started the National Title I Distinguished Schools Program in 1996 to recognize schools that have successfully used their Title I federal funds to improve the education for economically disadvantaged students.