Deerfield Schools Win Blue Ribbon Award Of Excellence

DEERFIELD, IL — The U.S. Department of Education Thursday announced that 25 Illinois schools are among the winners of the 2017 National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence, which recognize exceptional academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among groups of students. Four schools on the North Shore were recognized, including two in Deerfield and two in Wilmette.

According to the Department of Education, the honors are based on all student scores on state assessments or nationally normed tests. The state’s top-testing schools are considered exemplary high performing schools, while exemplary achievement gap closing schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years. Nationwide, 342 schools were recognized for the award, which has been given annually since 1982.

In Deerfield, Charles J Caruso Middle School and Kipling Elementary School were awarded the Blue Ribbon. Last year in District 109, Walden Elementary School and Alan B. Shepard Middle School were recognized. Caruso has won once before, under the name Wilmot Junior High, in 1983, according to Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld.

“It is humbling and affirming to be honored for the work we do on behalf of our children each and every day,” he wrote, announcing the awards. “Thanks to your continued support and open-mindedness to change, our schools are at the forefront of excellence and progressive education.” (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Deerfield — or another Illinois community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future," Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said, addressing honorees. "You are visionaries, innovators and leaders. You have much to teach us: some of you personalize student learning, others engage parents and communities in the work and life of your local schools and still others develop strong and forward-thinking leaders from among your teaching staff."

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education, while the Department of Education invites top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education to submit nominees.

_{Top photo: Students at Kipling Elementary School in Deerfield | Via Department of Education video}