Oak School Nationally Recognized for Academic Excellence

Photo courtesy of District 181. Hootie visits a class to celebrate the news.

Oak School in Hinsdale has been awarded the 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award, given for academic excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.

Principal Dr. Martha Henrikson, former Principal Sean Walsh and the school’s owl mascot Hootie made the announcement and did classroom visits Sept. 30, according to a District 181 news release.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan participated through live video conferencing.

The Illinois State Board of Education nominated Oak School in February to apply for the Blue Ribbon award as an Exemplary High Performing School, according to the release.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups,” according to the Department of Education.

The school community will celebrate the award Oct. 8 as part of the Walk to School Day. Walsh and an Oak School staff member will attend a ceremony in November in Washington D.C. with leaders from other recognized schools.

“These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American education — that all students, no matter their name or zip code, can flourish when schools provide safe, creative, and challenging learning environments,” Duncan said. “National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student.”

Oak School is among 13 public schools in Illinois and 337 public and private schools in the country to receive the award for 2014, according to the release.

Other District 191 schools have earned this award in previous years, including Clarendon Hills Middle School (2009), Hinsdale Middle School (2009), Madison School (2009) and The Lane School (2011).