Eighteen Illinois Schools Receive Prestigious Recognition as National Blue Ribbon Schools

The U.S. Department of Education awards the Blue Ribbon title to schools based on overall academic achievement or closing achievement gaps

SPRINGFIELD—U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona named 356 schools, including 18 in Illinois, as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024. The U.S. Department of Education selects National Blue Ribbon Schools based on their overall academic performance or progress in narrowing achievement gaps between student subgroups.

“I am extremely proud of the 18 Illinois schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "These schools reflect a statewide commitment to educational equity and excellence. The title of National Blue Ribbon School is one of the highest honors a school can earn. Thank you to the educators, administrators, families, and community members who work hard to make these schools centers of growth and achievement for each and every one of their students.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, founded in 1982, celebrates schools that attain the highest levels of academic excellence in the United States. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.

A National Blue Ribbon School award flag displayed in a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized emblem of exceptional teaching and learning. These schools serve as models of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation. Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to empowering educators, centering equity, and collaborating with community and family members to ensure student success. Schools, both public and nonpublic, may be nominated for the award only once within a five-year period.

The Illinois schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools are:

Arlington Heights – John Hersey High School, Township HSD 214

Arlington Heights – St. Viator High School, Archdiocese of Chicago

Chicago – Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy, Chicago Public Schools District 299

Chicago – St. Josaphat School, Archdiocese of Chicago

Dunlap – Dunlap Middle School, Dunlap CUSD 323

Elmhurst – Jefferson Elementary School, Elmhurst SD 205

Frankfort – Hickory Creek Middle School, Frankfort CCSD 157C

Geneva – Heartland Elementary School, Geneva CUSD 304

Green Oaks – Oak Grove School, Oak Grove SD 68

Hawthorn Woods – Lake Zurich Middle School - North Campus, Lake Zurich CUSD 95

Hickory Hills – H. H. Conrady Junior High School, North Palos SD 117

Lake Zurich – Lake Zurich High School, Lake Zurich CUSD 95

Maryville – Maryville Elementary School, Collinsville CUSD 10

Mascoutah – Mascoutah Elementary School, Mascoutah CUD 19

Naperville – Naperville Central High School, Naperville CUSD 203

Naperville – Neuqua Valley High School, Indian Prairie CUSD 204

Naperville – Scott Elementary School, Naperville CUSD 203

Palos Heights – Palos East Elementary School, Palos CCSD 118

You can view the full school profiles on the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools website.

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For more information:

Lindsay Record

Phone: 217-685-3585

Email: press@isbe.net

The Illinois State Board of Education is the State Education Agency for Illinois. Our mission is to provide each and every child with safe and healthy learning conditions, great educators, and equitable opportunities by practicing data-informed stewardship of resources and policy development, all done in partnership with educators, families, and stakeholders.

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