Four Mississippi schools have been named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing their academic excellence and efforts to close achievement gaps among student groups.
The schools honored this year are:
Exemplary High Performing Schools
Magnolia Park Elementary School, Oceans Springs School District
Mannsdale Upper Elementary, Madison County School District
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools
Ripley High School, South Tippah School District
Stone Elementary School, Stone County School District
“Congratulations to the educators, students, families, and communities of all four schools for earning this national recognition of achievement,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “The Mississippi Department of Education applauds their hard work and intentional focus on best practices for academic and professional success.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools program celebrates schools that demonstrate high performance on state assessments or show significant improvement in closing achievement gaps. Awardees are led by visionary leaders who uphold high instructional standards and utilize effective teaching methods. They prioritize data-driven instruction and foster collaboration among families, communities, and educators.
“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “These schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students and serve as models for effective teaching and collaboration.”
Schools that receive the National Blue Ribbon award display a flag as a symbol of their accomplishment, signifying their commitment to exceptional teaching and learning.
The U.S. Department of Education evaluates schools based on student performance data, including assessment results, subgroup performance, and graduation rates. Schools are recognized in two categories:
Exemplary High Performing Schools: Top performers in their state based on assessments.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools: Schools that excel in narrowing achievement gaps among student groups.
Each nominated school submits a detailed application outlining its culture, curriculum, instructional practices, and community involvement. Up to 420 schools may be nominated annually for this prestigious recognition, with nominations coming from state education officials, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.
