Morton Grove School Awarded Blue Ribbon Award Of Excellence

MORTON GROVE, IL — The U.S. Department of Education Monday named a pair of public elementary schools in Morton Grove and Park Ridge as winners in the National Blue Ribbon Schools program. Hynes Elementary School in Golf School District 67 and George Washington Elementary School in Park Ridge Community Consolidated School 64 were named among the 24 Illinois schools to pick up the prestigious honor. Both schools were selected as exemplary high performing schools, based on all student scores, subgroups and graduation rates, according to the Department of Education.

This year marks the first time a school in Morton Grove has earned the coveted Blue Ribbon designation. The last time a Park Ridge school was awarded a Blue Ribbon was in 2011, when Mary, Seat of Wisdom Catholic School and Our Lady of Mercy Academy were both honored.

The northwest suburban schools were among 349 nationally recognized this year — 300 public and 49 private — for their academic excellence. The Blue Ribbon Schools program has honored over 8,800 schools that have managed top test scores or eliminated major gaps among students from different demographics in its 36-year history.

The Department of Education will honor all winning schools at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 7 and 8. In a video announcing the winners, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said she looks forward to meeting the winners and learning from their experiences.

"We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives," DeVos said. "Congratulations on your students' accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs."

Every year, up to 420 schools can be nominated. Public schools are nominated by top state and federal education officials, while private and parochial schools are selected by The Council for American Private Education.

National Blue Ribbon School application and demographics via U.S. Department of Education:

Hynes Elementary School (Blue Ribbon Application)

• Students: 364
• White: 45 percent
• Economically disadvantaged: 43 percent
• Asian: 38 percent
• English learners: 22 percent
• Hispanic: 10 percent
• Two or more races: 3 percent
• African-America: 2 percent
• Pacific Islander: 2 percent

Dr. Flores and Mrs. Westley congratulate staff on being recognized as a Blue Ribbon school. SO PROUD! #inspire67 pic.twitter.com/SJBUVf8GmV
— Beth Sagett-Flores (@bethflores67) October 1, 2018

George Washington Elementary School (Blue Ribbon Application)

• Students: 651
• White: 85 percent
• Economically disadvantages: 19 percent
• Hispanic: 9 percent
• English learners: 7 percent
• Asian: 4 percent
• African-American: 1 percent
• Two or more races: 1 percent

Complete list of 2018 Illinois Blue Ribbon Schools

• Aviston Elementary School – Aviston
• Butterfield Elementary School – Lombard
• Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School– Orland Hills
• Edison Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
• Evergreen Elementary School – Carol Stream
• George Washington Elementary School – Park Ridge
• Giant City Community Consolidated School District 130 – Carbondale
• Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy – Chicago
• Hickory Creek Middle School – Frankfort
• Hynes Elementary School – Morton Grove
• Libertyville High School – Libertyville
• Meridian School – Buffalo Grove
• Naperville North High School – Naperville
• Parkview Elementary School – Columbia
• Peoria Christian High School – Peoria
• Proviso Math And Science Academy – Forest Park
• Queen Of All Saints School – Chicago
• Sacred Heart School – Winnetka
• Saint Bede Elementary School – Ingleside
• Saint Francis de Sales School – Lake Zurich
• Saint Francis Xavier School – Wilmette
• Saint Therese Chinese Catholic School – Chicago
• South Park Elementary School – Deerfield
• Tremont Elementary School – Tremont