In every community, citizens can quickly tell you the names of their worst schools. However, if you asked which urban schools in their community outperformed overall state averages, many citizens might think you were asking a trick question. NCUST delights in identifying, awarding, and celebrating America’s best urban schools: schools that achieve multiple evidences of academic excellence for every racial/ ethnic/income group served. We look for schools where students with emerging English proficiency are thriving. As well, we look for dual language academies where all demographic groups of students are developing proficiency in two or more languages.  We celebrate schools where Black, Latinx, and Native American students outperform statewide averages for all students. We thrill to find schools where students with disabilities learn the same challenging academic standards being taught to all other students.  Our annual America’s Best Urban Schools Award Program provides us with outstanding opportunities to find schools where excellence and equity merge to form the beacon of light that directs all efforts.