3 Greater Columbus schools named 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 325 schools from across the country as this year’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Tuesday, including 16 schools in Ohio and three in the Greater Columbus area.

The recognition is awarded to public and non-public schools nationwide each year “based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” said Cardona said Tuesday at Walter R. Sundling Jr. High School in Illinois, one of the awardee schools.

“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,” he continued. “In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have so much to offer and can serve as a model for other schools and communities so that we can truly build back better.”

Awardee schools are placed in one of two performance categories, according to the U.S. Department of Education:

h Exemplary High-performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests; and

h Exemplary Achievement Gapclosing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Three Greater Columbus schools received the recognition this year. In Dublin, two schools were awarded the title: Dublin Jerome High School of Dublin City School District and Saint Brigid of Kildare Elementary School of the Diocese of Columbus.

In Licking County, Granville High School of Granville Exempted Village School District was also recognized.

Here are the National Blue Ribbon Schools in Ohio this year:

h Westerly Elementary School in Bay Village, Bay Village City School District;

h Hilltop Elementary School in Beachwood, Beachwood City School District;

h Whipple Heights Elementary School in Canton, Perry Local School District;

h Mariemont Junior High School in Cincinnati, Mariemont City School District;

h Montgomery Elementary School in Cincinnati, Sycamore Community City School District;

h Dublin Jerome High School in Dublin, Dublin City School District;

h Saint Brigid Of Kildare Elementary School in Dublin, Diocese of Columbus;

h Girard Intermediate Middle School in Girard, Girard City School District;

h Granville High School in Granville, Granville Exempted Village School District;

h Seton Catholic School in Hudson, Diocese of Cleveland;

h Orchard Park Elementary School in Kettering, Kettering City School District;

h Hocking Hills Elementary School in Logan, Logan-hocking Local School District;

h Marion Local Elementary School in Maria Stein, Marion Local School District;

h Minster Elementary School in Minister, Minster Local School District;

h Pugliese Elementary School West in Steubenville, Steubenville City School District; and

h Fallen Timbers Middle School in Whitehouse, Anthony Wayne Local School District.

Dublin City Schools was also named the third-best Ohio school district this week, according to this year’s list by Niche.com. Granville Exempted Village School District ranked No. 19 in the state’s rankings.

Niche’s rankings are based on a number of indicators including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality and public school district ratings, according to the website. Niche also typically uses ACT and SAT scores to determine its rankings, but the company said this year that those factors were significantly reduced because of socioeconomic and racial disparities perpetuated by standardized tests, COVID-19’S impact on testing last year and an increasing number of colleges and universities adopting test-optional policies for admissions. shendrix@dispatch.com @sheridan120

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Students move between classes at Dublin Jerome High School. The school was recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School.