Four schools earn 2021 National Blue Ribbon honors

Four of Michigan’s 13 National Blue Ribbon schools this year are located within Oakland County.

Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, today announced the 325 nationwide schools recognized based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

The Oakland County schools included Conant Elementary School, in the Bloomfield Hills School District; Webber Elementary School, in the Lake Orion Community School District; and Barnard Elementary and Leonard Elementary schools in the Troy School District.

Schools are recognized based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates in one of two categories: exemplary high-performing schools among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or national testing; or schools that are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Up to 420 schools can be nominated annually. The Department of Education invites nominations from all states, in addition to 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.

“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” Cardona said in a statement. “I commend all our blue ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children.”

The program, now in its 39th year, has given out approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.