Osceola County’s Professional and Technical High School (PATHS) has been named as one of only 14 Florida schools and 353 nationwide to receive the National Blue Ribbon School honor.
The magnet school, known locally as PATHS, earned the recognition based on the documentation of its school’s overall academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.
PATHS students have produced impressive achievement. According to Principal Kelly Roman, 15 of its 112 Class of 2023 graduates left its halls last spring having already earned an Associates degree and completed a technical program based on the school’s partnerships with Osceola Technical College and Valencia College.
“That class completed 764 Valencia classes and 542 O-Tech courses in their career,” Roman said.
Once the school was nominated, Roman said she and her staff completed a “lengthy” application, detailed PATHS’ curriculum and instruction techniques, how it works with students working below — and above — grade level, and how families are integrated in student life and mental health.
Word came down last week that the school earned the honor; Roman will travel to Washington, D.C. in mid-November to accept the award from the U.S. Department of Education.
“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to raise the bar in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”
PATHS offers a 4X4 “block” schedule, allowing students to earn more credits by completing an entire year-long course within a semester time frame. This acceleration allows students to earn their high school graduation requirements earlier, freeing up time to then focus on their oTECH program and/or Valencia College Dual Enrollment.
“The well-deserved National Blue Ribbon School status reflects the dedication and hard work of the school’s educators, students, parents, staff, and the broader community towards exemplary achievement,” said Osceola School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff. “I am extremely proud to recognize and celebrate the excellence in education at PATHS knowing it has a ripple effect by inspiring other schools, boosting community pride, and providing validation and motivation for students and educators. It’s a true testament to the school’s commitment to providing a world-class educational experience.”
A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized national symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
“Dr. Shanoff promised us he’d get us a flagpole,” Roman said. “We share one with O-Tech.”
