North Shore Schools Named 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon Winners

EVANSTON, IL — Three North Shore schools made the Illinois' 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools class, earning recognition for high academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.

Public schools:

• Dawes Elementary School, Evanston-Skokie School District 65 (Achievement Gap Closing)
• McKenzie Elementary School, Wilmette Public Schools District 39 (High Performing)

Private schools:

• St. Athanasius School, Evanston (High Performing)

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education announced the full list during a ceremony at John Mills Elementary School in Elmwood Park, which was also among this year's honorees.

The statewide list includes 16 public schools and eight nonpublic schools from urban, suburban and rural communities. Sixteen schools received high-performing recognition and eight were honored for closing achievement gaps.

"I want to congratulate our 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools, who demonstrate what is possible when students, educators, families, and communities come together to support our children in reaching their full potential," Pritzker said in the announcement.

The Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools program is now in its second year in Illinois. The state program follows the model of the federal Blue Ribbon Schools program.

Illinois created its version last year after the Trump administration canceled the U.S. Department of Education's national program, according to the governor's office.

Patch editor Eric DeGrechie contributed to this report.