President Congratulates Colorado School For Accomplishments

DENVER (CBS4) - During President Obama's State of the Union speech on Tuesday he applauded a Colorado school for their accomplishments.

"Take a school like Bruce Randolph in Denver. Three years ago it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado -- located on turf between two rival gangs. But last May, 97 percent of the seniors received their diploma," Obama said.

The President used Bruce Randolph School, a school in the Denver Public Schools system that has students in grades 6 through 12, as an example of how he would like to see education improve in the United States. He said overall the education system must be better. He said Bruce Randolph showed that it's possible to make vast improvements and change life circumstances.

"Most will be the first in their families to go to college. And after the first year of the school's transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said, 'Thank you, Ms. Waters, for showing that we are smart and we can make it,'" Obama said.

Obama said Bruce Randolph's progress showed what good schools can do. He said he wants to see similar improvements throughout the country.

Related Link: Bruce Randolph School's website