Coles Elementary Recognized As Exclusive National Blue Ribbon School

MANASSAS, VA — Coles Elementary School in Manassas is one of seven in Virginia recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The honor was bestowed to 297 schools across the country.

The U.S. Department of Education honors schools with high levels of academic performance or who closed achievement gaps between groups of students.

"These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students' lives," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release. "As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children."

Coles Elementary School's National Blue Ribbon profile describes it as a diverse with an emphasis on "environmentally-minded thinkers" that explore real-world problems.

Kathryn Forgas is the principal at Coles Elementary School.

"Coles Elementary is honored to have been nominated by the Virginia Department of Education and named a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education," she said in a news release. "We are ecstatic and proud of our hard-working and dedicated team in facilitating, building, and sustaining a culture of high expectations and achievement for student learning, development of student agency, and fostering global citizens through reflective practices positively impacting the learning environment and the community at large."

More information about National Blue Ribbon Schools is available on the U.S. Department of Education's website.