National Blue Ribbon School: Stilwell Junior High Earns Coveted Honor From U.S. Education Department

WEST DES MOINES, IA -- Stilwell Junior High School is among only five Iowa schools to receive a coveted U.S. Department of Education honor for academic excellence in 2017. Stilwell was named a National Blue Ribbon School.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced the 342 schools selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Now in its 35th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized more than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 6 and 7, the Secretary and the U.S. Department of Education will celebrate with these honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

“Iowa can learn from these schools as our education system continues to make sure every student is prepared for success in and beyond school,” Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise said in a news release. “We celebrate Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Schools for their commitment to excellence and for their leadership.”

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Schools selected for the list were chosen in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

The other selected Iowa schools are:

• Charter Oak-Ute Elementary School, Charter Oak-Ute Community School District: Closing the achievement gap
• North Kossuth Elementary School, North Kossuth Community School District: Closing the achievement gap
• Tipton Elementary School, Tipton Community School District: High performing school
• Whittier Elementary School, Indianola Community School District: High performing school

Blue Ribbon schools will be honored at an awards ceremony Nov. 6-7 in Washington, D.C.

Image from Iowa Department of Education website