Of 9 NJ Blue Ribbon Schools Honored By Feds, 2 Are In Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Nine New Jersey public schools were among 350 nationwide named this week by the U.S. Department of Education as Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023 — and two of those were in Bergen County.

Schools received the Blue Ribbon designation based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps, the education department said in a news release.

Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of Education for New Jersey, said the recognition "affirms the dedication of our educators, the resilience of our students, and the support of our communities. It highlights New Jersey's commitment to excellence in education and showcases the exceptional work happening in our schools.'

Here are the 2023 honorees from New Jersey:

• Luther Lee Emerson School, Demarest
• Washington Irving School #4, Garfield
• J. Fithian Tatem School, Haddonfield SD (Camden County)
• Technology High School, Newark Public SD (Essex County)
• Princeton Charter School (Mercer County)
• Claremont Avenue Elementary School, Woodbridge Township SD (Middlesex County)
• High Technology High School, Monmouth County Vocational SD (Monmouth County)
• Hilltop School, Mendham Borough SD (Morris County)
• Oak Street School, Bernards Township SD (Somerset County)

Miguel Cardona, the secretary of education, said the schools set a “national example” for what it means to raise the bar in education.

This is the 40th year of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. About 10,000 awards have been handed out to more than 9,700 schools in that time.

Schools that receive the honor share certain characteristics, the education department said. School leaders share their vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards.

Additionally, the Department said these schools are effective, innovative, and value and support teachers and staff with professional learning. The schools also use data to drive instruction, and students strive for success.

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two categories, based on student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools: These are among the state’s highest performing schools, measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools: These are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

See New Jersey's list of nine schools and their administrators here.

Patch Editor Michele Rotuno-Johnson contributed to this report.