Blue Ribbon Schools

National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels.  The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely-recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

Program Details

Program Statute
Public Law 107-110 § 5411(b)(5)

Funding Source
Federal

Eligible Recipients
States may nominate elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at very high levels and/or where the achievement gap is narrowing. At least one-third of the schools nominated from each state must have a student body with at least 40 percent being from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Performance Measures
Exemplary High Performing Schools - Regardless of the school's demographics or percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the school is high performing. These are schools that are ranked among a state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments in both reading/language arts and mathematics or that score at the highest performance level on tests referenced by national norms in at least the most recent year tested.

Exemplary Improving Schools - These are schools with at least 40 percent of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds that have reduced the achievement gap by making the most progress in improving student performance in reading/language arts and mathematics on state assessments or tests referenced by national norms in at least the most recent year tested.

Award Recipients

2020 - 2021

2019 - 2020

2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2011-2012

2010-2011