AUSTIN The Texas Education Agency announced Tuesday the nomination of 26 Texas public schools as 2022 National Blue Ribbon School designees.
Initiated by the United States Department of Education (USDE) in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that have high student achievement and/or highlights where exemplary progress has been made in closing achievement gaps among student subpopulations. Since the program’s founding, 9,000 schools across the nation have received this prestigious designation.
In the Lone Star State, public schools are considered for nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the previous year’s STAAR assessments, as well as College and Career data and Graduation rates if applicable. This year’s nominees highlight the diverse learning environments found across the state, with the inclusion of traditional elementary, middle, and high school campuses, along with magnet and early college high schools. These nominees also represent 12 of the state’s 20 Education Service Center regions, spanning from the Panhandle down to the Coastal Bend and from the Piney Woods of East Texas to the Plains of West Texas.
The nominated schools must now complete a rigorous application process conducted by the USDE. National award winners will be announced in September of 2022. Schools that receive the designation will be recognized at the National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Among the local nominees for Exemplary High Performing Schools are: Garden City Elementary Glasscock County ISD; Early College High School at Midland College Midland ISD.
Exemplary Achievement-Gap-Closing Schools: Wink Elementary Wink-Loving ISD.
