For the first time in the history of The Broad Prize, two districts—the only two finalists in 2014—were named winners of The Broad Prize. Each received $500,000 in college scholarships for its high school seniors.

It marked a second win for Gwinnett County, which also won The Broad Prize in 2010 and was a finalist in 2009. The district’s leadership benefits from impressive training for principals and remarkable stability at the top, with one of the country’s longest-serving superintendents and school board members who have served for decades. Gwinnett Schools are helping more of their low-income students reach advanced academic levels than any other district in the state. Learn more

Orange County became a first-time winner in 2014, standing out among other eligible districts for the rapid pace at which it pursued and achieved higher academic performance. The district relies on data-driven decision-making, a dogged pursuit of rigor in every classroom and a united vision for the system. Learn more

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The Houston Independent School District won its second Broad Prize—the first was in the inaugural year of the award, and it was a finalist again in 2012—for its success in increasing its graduation rate faster than other urban districts and improving college readiness. The district requires all high schools to offer at least 15 Advanced Placement courses, and pays for its students to take the SAT and ACT. Learn more

Finalists
Corona-Norco Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet
Cumberland County Schools, North Carolina – Fact Sheet
San Diego Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet

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A four-time finalist for The Broad Prize, Miami-Dade received the award for its strong leadership—Superintendent Alberto Carvalho spread the mantra of improving student achievement district-wide—and for its emphasis on community engagement and creating multiple public school options for students. Learn more

Finalists
Corona-Norco Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet
Houston Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet
The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida – Fact Sheet

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After being a finalist in 2010 and 2004, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools won The Broad Prize in the award’s 10th year. The district raised achievement for its low-income students and students of color in part by putting staff and resources where they were most needed and building a culture of meaningful teacher evaluation. Learn more

Finalists
Broward County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet
Ysleta Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet

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Gwinnett Schools won The Broad Prize in 2010 after the district increased its academic standards and expectations beyond state requirements. The district, where the student body has grown more diverse in recent years, focused on teacher development and a homegrown curriculum to introduce more rigor in the classroom. As a result, achievement gaps narrowed. Learn more

Finalists
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina – Fact Sheet
Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland – Fact Sheet
Socorro Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet
Ysleta Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet

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A three-time finalist before winning The Broad Prize in 2009, the Aldine Independent School District worked to create an online curriculum and assessment database for teachers, a strong recruiting program for teacher talent and an emphasis on high expectations—including offering after-school classes and Saturday school to ensure students can make up course credit. Learn more

Finalists
Broward County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet
Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia – Fact Sheet
Long Beach Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet
Socorro Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet

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With almost all of its students qualifying for a free- or reduced-price lunch and nearly half still learning English, the Brownsville Independent School District on the Texas-Mexico border has a well-defined mission: helping its students reach success after high school. The district closely tracks student progress, including shifting students into and out of English language learner programs, and supports English learners in their other subjects to make sure they don’t fall behind. Learn more

Finalists
Aldine Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet
Long Beach Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet
Broward County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet

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The largest district in the country, the New York City Department of Education was a finalist for two consecutive years before winning The Broad Prize in 2007. The district restructured its central office and pursued groundbreaking changes, including giving its teachers increased autonomy and creating public school options. Learn more

Finalists
Bridgeport Public Schools, Connecticut – Fact Sheet
Long Beach Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet
Northside Independent School District, Texas – Fact Sheet

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After being named a Broad Prize finalist four consecutive years, the fifth time was the charm when Boston Public Schools won in 2006. Boston Public Schools consistently outperformed similar districts in its state across grade levels and subjects. The district boasted high standards with a well-aligned curriculum and district-specific assessments, pacing guides and professional development. With the benefit of support, teachers in Boston raised student achievement to new levels. Learn more

Finalists
Bridgeport Public Schools, Connecticut – Fact Sheet
Jersey City Public Schools, New Jersey – Fact Sheet
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida – Fact Sheet
New York City Department of Education, New York – Fact Sheet

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A two-time finalist before winning The Broad Prize in 2005, Norfolk Public Schools serves many students from military families—the city is home of the world’s largest naval station. The district’s mantra, “All means all,” emphasizes the importance of helping every student, no matter his or her background, to excel. The district also focuses on literacy as a basis for learning and teacher support. Learn more

Finalists
Aldine Independent School District, Texas- Fact Sheet
Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts – Fact Sheet
New York City Department of Education, New York – Fact Sheet
San Francisco Unified School District, California – Fact Sheet

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The Garden Grove district, with a student body that is largely low-income and learning English, reduced achievement gaps and achieved a graduation rate that beat the national average. Demonstrating a unity of mission, it redesigned its report cards to reflect its district-wide standards so parents saw not just letter grades, but also what their child is expected to learn each year. Learn more

Finalists
Aldine Independent School District, Texas
Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina
Norfolk Public Schools, Virginia

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The Long Beach Unified School District, led by district veteran Christopher Steinhauser, outperformed other districts with similar student demographics in elementary, middle and high school reading and math. The district focuses on high academic achievement for every student by encouraging a collaborative teaching approach, utilizing comprehensive curriculum guides and administering regular assessments to ensure student learning is on track. Learn more

Finalists
Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts
Garden Grove Unified School District, California
Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky
Norfolk Public Schools, Virginia

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The inaugural winner of The Broad Prize, the Houston Independent School District demonstrated an early adoption of using performance data to drive instruction and a commitment to supporting principals as strong instructional leaders. Houston principals spend between two-thirds and three-quarters of each day in the classroom, helping teachers improve.

Finalists
Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia
Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts
Garden Grove Unified School District, California
Long Beach Unified School District, California

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