TMA was one of 45 private schools, and the only Montessori school, in the country selected to receive the prestigious Blue Ribbon Schools Award from the U.S. Department of Education for the 1998-99 school year. To be considered for the award, TMA submitted a nomination and provided evidence of meeting national standards of excellence in the following areas:

• strong leadership;
• a clear vision and sense of mission shared by all connected with the school; high quality teaching;
• a challenging up-to-date curriculum;
• policies and practices that ensure a safe environment conducive to learning;
• solid evidence of family involvement;
• evidence that the school helps all students achieve high standards; and
• a commitment to share the best practices with other schools.

The Blue Ribbon panel reviewed the nomination and selected TMA for a campus visit to verify that the school was actually doing what was described in the nomination. During the campus visit records were verified, classrooms observed, and parent, teachers and students were interviewed. TMA received notification on May 19, 1999 that the school had been selected as a Blue Ribbon School, and designated a national school of excellence.

TMA received congratulatory letters from a number of individuals representing local, state, and national organizations. The following quote is one of our favorites from then Governor of Texas, George Bush:

"Education is our number one priority in Texas. It is the most important thing that we will do as a state, and we must get it right. Clearly, The Montessori Academy is getting it right, earning this prestigious award for its challenging curriculum, quality of teaching and high level of family involvement. I commend the students for their hard work, the parents for their support and the teachers and administrators for their commitment to excellence. Texas is proud of you."

In 2002 the Blue Ribbon School Program was changed to the No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program to align the national recognition program with the recently passed federal legislation, No Child Left Behind Act. The focus has shifted to recognizing schools that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to reinforce the education reforms contained in the No Child Left Behind Act.

For further information on the Blue Ribbon Schools Program as it was before the change in 2002, please read Blue Ribbon Schools Program 1982-2002 as prepared by the U.S. Department of Education.