The Girard Academy Music Program in South Philadelphia received Blue Ribbon national recognition for academic excellence.
GAMP, a fifth through 12th-grade school in Girard Estate, was one of 325 schools nationwide and one of only two Philadelphia schools, joining Penn Alexander School in West Philadelphia to achieve the designation this year.
The two schools were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, GAMP and Penn Alexander are among the nation’s highest performing, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates.
“To see two of our schools being recognized for their accomplishments during a year that was challenging should be a point of pride for our principals, teachers and students,” said William R. Hite Jr., superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. “I am elated to see the progress made under these two incredible leaders.”
GAMP, a college preparatory school with a heavy focus on helping students pursue music as a major subject, has an enrollment of more than 600 students.
GAMP was one of only 13 schools chosen from Pennsylvania in 2021. The National Blue Ribbon Schools program is now in its 39th year and designates both public and private elementary, middle and high schools.
“As a learning community that strives for academic and musical excellence, we are proud to be honored as an exemplary high performing school,” said GAMP principal Jovan Moore. “We have a commitment to an educational experience in which all students succeed and our school community should take pride in our accomplishments.”
According to the School District of Philadelphia, GAMP and Penn Alexander are the 16th and 17th schools from the district to achieve this designation. There have now been 10 during Hite’s tenure as superintendent.
The last school from South Philly to receive National Blue Ribbon designation was the William M. Meredith Elementary School in Queen Village in 2018. GAMP and Penn Alexander will receive plaques at a ceremony hosted by National Blue Ribbon Schools in November.
