Minnesota Now Home To Seven 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Big news arrived today for seven Minnesota schools as they learned they were being recognized as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 356 schools in America earned the coveted designation this year.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which was established in 1982, is one of the longest-running recognition programs. It takes pride in recognizing outstanding public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall high academic achievement or success in closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students.

The U.S. Department of Education says the goals of the program are "to shine a spotlight on the best schools in the United States and to share best practices of outstanding schools across the country."

The National Blue Ribbon School Program

Up to 420 schools may be nominated for this recognition each year. The Department of Education invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

Each nominated school must submit a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.

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The Department recognizes all schools based on student performance data including assessment results, student subgroup performance, and graduation rates. Schools are recognized in both or either of two performance categories:

Exemplary High Performing Schools: These schools are among the top performers in their state as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools: These schools excel in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body.

7 Minnesota Schools Named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools

This year, the following seven Minnesota schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools.

1. Caledonia High School, Caledonia Area Public School District.

2. Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School, Hills-Beaver Creek School District.

3. Franklin Elementary School, Mankato Public School District.

4. Chippewa Middle School, Mounds View Public School District.

5. James Knoll Elementary School, Ortonville Public Schools.

6. Pioneer Elementary School, Pierz School District.

7. Oakwood Elementary School, Wayzata School District.

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All National Blue Ribbon Schools, like the fantastic Minnesota schools listed above, can now have an official award flag displayed in its entryway or on a flagpole to show it has been recognized as a school of exceptional teaching and learning. These schools serve as models of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation.