Dozens of schools across the nation led by AFSA members have been awarded Blue Ribbon designation by the U.S. Department of Education.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, started in 1982, recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
"Blue Ribbon Schools are institutions that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in promoting teamwork, collaboration and a holistic approach to education," said AFSA President Leonard P. Pugliese. "These schools have gone above and beyond to create an environment where students, teachers and administrators work together seamlessly to achieve academic success and personal development."
Every year the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools—schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. The coveted National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. The National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
"I know firsthand that school leadership and solid teamwork is the compass that guides a learning community toward excellence, ensuring that every student's potential is unlocked and nurtured whether your school wins a Blue Ribbon or not," said Pugliese. "Teamwork in school fosters a collaborative spirit that transforms individual potential into collective excellence, laying the foundation for academic achievement."
Here are a few AFSA-led schools that now fly the Blue Ribbon flag.
Local 48L – Association of Madison Administrators
Daniel Hand High School – Madison, Connecticut
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 789
Award year: 2024
Type of School: High School
From left: Athletic Director Chris Farrell, Principal Anthony Salutari Jr., Assistant Principal Melanie Whitcher;and Assistant Principal Brian Bodner.
Local 2 – Chicago Principals & Administrators Association
Hawthorne Scholastic Academy – Chicago
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 619
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Magnet School
From left: Principal Trish Davlante and Assistant Principal Ellie McCabe.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
Fordham High School for the Arts – Bronx, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 345
Award year: 2024
Type of School: High School, Title I School
From left: Assistant Principal Nicholas Verrillo, Assistant Principal Alyson Weaver, Principal Michael Johnson Jr. and Assistant Principal Maha Hasen.
Local 146 – Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals
Bells Mill Elementary School – Potomac, Maryland
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 596
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
From left: Leadership Team: Reading Specialist Rachael Abramson, Former Assistant Principal Brooks Kemp, Counselor Sarah Havenstein, Principal Dr. Stacy Smith, Staff Development Teacher Mark Fenton and Special Education Resource Lead Tiffany Jackson.
Standing with Chief of Schools Dr. Peter Moran and MCPS Superintendent Dr. Tomas Taylor.
Local 81 – Union of Berkeley Administrators
John Muir Elementary School – Berkeley, California
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 271
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Title I School
From left: Principal Paco Furlan, 5th Grade Teacher Jessica Mejia-Smith, Kindergarten Teacher Gwen Rogers, 1st Grade Teacher Carrie Johnson, Literacy Coach Simone Miller, 2nd Grade Teacher Melia Hong and 3rd Grade Teacher Paula Thomas.
Local 100 – St. Croix Educational Administrators’ Association
Ricardo Richards Elementary School – Kingshill, Virgin Islands
Nomination category: Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools
Total number of students: 393
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Title I School
From left: Principal Natasha O'Halloran-Smith and Assistant Principal Valda Austrie.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
PS 130 Elementary School – Bayside, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 378
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Choice School
From left: School Leadership Team Members Parent Faviola Serpas, Teacher Elizabeth Ort, Parent Jennifer Boucher, Parent Nicole Sullivan, Principal Catherine Specchia, Assistant Principal Loreli Aguiar, Teacher Linda Fischler, Parent Na Lin and PTA Co-President Kimberly Williams.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
MS 255 Salk School of Science – New York, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 373
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Middle School
From left: Ahmed Shah – Technology; Assistant Principal Marsha Wallace; Brian Long – Math; Jake Wizner – Humanities; Principal Rhonda Perry; Marcel Pezet – Humanities; Jake Leibold – Math; Ling Teo – Humanities; Patti Burr – Parent Coordinator; Lorin Schneider – Social Worker.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
PS 184 Shuang Wen – New York, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 736
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
From left: Assistant Principal Chris Fuchs, Assistant Principal Jenny Kwong, Principal Jeremy Kabinoff, Ed.D;and Assistant Principal Lauren Degeorge.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
PS 35 The Clove Valley School – Staten Island, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 394
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
Principal Melissa Garofalo and Assistant Principal Erin O’Hanlon with teaching staff.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
PS 150 – New York, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 241
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
Bell Award Winner
From left: Principal Nico Victorino and Assistant Principal Naiching Liu.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
Louis Pasteur Middle School 67Q – Little Neck, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 946
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Middle School
From left: Principal Brian Annello, Guidance Counselor Michael Viruet, UFT Chapter Leader Mariann Scoufaras, Assistant Principal Anthony Rizzo, Assistant Principal Taso Lampoutis, Assistant Principal Maria Lam and Assistant Principal Barbara Narissi.
Local 58 – Association of Dearborn School Administrators
Dearborn STEM Middle School – Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 162
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Middle School, Title I School
From left: Team Leader Jennifer Fryzel, Director Amal Alcodray, Principal Oussama Baydoun and Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors & Administrators
PS 166 The Richard Rodgers School of the Arts and Technology – New York, New York
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 606
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
Principal: Debra Mastriano
