Eight Missouri Schools Named Blue Ribbon Schools

09/28/16

Eight public schools in Missouri have been honored as 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The national award honors schools that perform at high academic levels or that perform at high levels while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students.

These are Missouri's Blue Ribbon Schools:

Adrian Elementary, Adrian R-III School District

Chapel Hill Elementary, North Kansas City 74 School District

Fairway Elementary, Rockwood R-VI School District

Harry S Truman Elementary, Webb City R-VII School District

James E. Freer Elementary, Windsor C-1 School District

Lucy Franklin Elementary, Blue Springs R-IV School District

Richland High School, Richland R-I School District

William Yates Elementary, Blue Springs R-IV School District

“Congratulations to the students, teachers, school staff and their communities for this tremendous accomplishment,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “These schools are a model of the progress being made by public schools across our state in preparing students for success.”

Earlier this year, these eight schools were honored as Missouri Gold Star Schools, a program established by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 1991. They were then nominated for the Blue Ribbon program.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized with the Blue Ribbon Award,” said Principal Raylene Walsh of Chapel Hill Elementary. “It validates that all students can learn at high levels when supported by a staff that uses proven instructional practices and values a shared vision and teamwork.  An award such as this not only brings honor to our school and district but also our community.”

Connie Reynolds, principal of Adrian Elementary, agrees. “The awarding of National Blue Ribbon School status to Adrian Elementary is due to a community that wholeheartedly supports our schools, a staff that is truly invested in and dedicated to each and every member of our school community, and students who work hard every day to be the best they can be while supporting others within our school,” she said.  

College and career readiness is a primary goal of the state's Top 10 by 20 initiative, which calls for Missouri to rank as one of the top 10 performing states in education by the year 2020.

09/29/15

Eight public schools in Missouri have been honored as 2015 Blue Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.

The national award honors schools for high levels of academic achievement or significant progress in closing gaps in achievement among disadvantaged and minority students.

Missouri's Blue Ribbon Schools are:

  • Blanchard Elementary, Cape Girardeau 63 School District
  • Ralph M. Captain Elementary, Clayton School District
  • Ladue Middle School, Ladue School District
  • Truman Middle School, Lindbergh Schools
  • New Haven High School, New Haven School District
  • McKelvey Elementary, Parkway C-2 School District
  • West Middle School, Parkway C-2 School District
  • Kennard Classical Junior Academy, St. Louis City School District

“Congratulations to the students, teacher, school staff and their communities for this tremendous accomplishment,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “These schools model the hard work taking place in our public schools across the state in preparing students with the necessary skills for success now and after graduation.”

Earlier this year these eight schools were honored as Missouri Gold Star Schools, a program conducted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“The students and staff at Barbara Blanchard Elementary are very grateful for the honor of being named a Blue Ribbon School,” said Principal Barbara Kohlfeld. “We deeply appreciate the recognition for our work.”

New Haven High School Principal Josh Hoener added: “Student accountability accompanied with high expectations of the community and staff encourages our students to achieve at high levels. We are proud to represent the State of Missouri and the many great Missouri schools at the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Ceremony.”

More than 7,500 schools across the country have been honored as Blue Ribbon Schools since the program was founded in 1982. The state and national programs are part of a larger effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school-leadership and teaching practices.

The winners will be recognized in November at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

College and career readiness is a primary goal of the state's Top 10 by 20 initiative, which calls for Missouri to rank among the top 10 performing states nationally in education by the year 2020.