Princeton Elementary School Earns National Blue Ribbon Recognition

PRINCETON, NJ — Littlebrook Elementary School is one of nine public schools in the state that has been named a National Blue Ribbon School, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Schools earn Blue Ribbon status for high student achievement and quality programs.

The Princeton-based school will be honored during the annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., where each school will be recognized with a plaque and a flag. The ceremony takes place the weekend of Nov. 6-7.

“I want to congratulate these nine New Jersey public schools for being selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools, the highest recognition bestowed by the United States Department of Education,” New Jersey Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington said. “These schools are being honored thanks to the dedication of their teachers, administrators, students, and school communities working together to achieve educational excellence.”

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a release. "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."

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools at all levels where students achieve very high learning standards or make notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

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.

Up to 420 schools are nominated each year by the 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. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

In the last 25 years, more than 8,500 schools across the country have earned this designation, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s website. For the full list of 342 schools nationally to earn the recognition, click here.

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