North Carolina Honors Four Schools with Blue Ribbon Awards for Academic Excellence
In a significant move to celebrate academic excellence, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has introduced the Blue Ribbon Schools program, unveiling its first ever statewide awardees. This initiative highlights schools excelling in both academic performance and efforts to close achievement gaps.
“This recognition reflects the hard work of educators, students, families and communities working together to ensure every child has access to high-quality learning,” announced State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “We celebrate these schools for their growth, achievement and commitment to student success as North Carolina’s inaugural Blue Ribbon Schools award recipients.”
The selection of this year’s recipients was based on the 2023-24 accountability results, with schools being categorized into Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing. Notably, three out of the four honored schools achieved recognition in both categories.
The distinguished schools are:
- Apex Friendship Middle School (Wake County Public Schools): This school is celebrated for its inclusive culture and commitment to academic excellence, fostering diverse learning experiences and emphasizing social-emotional growth. (Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing)
- Henderson County Early College (Henderson County Public Schools): Situated on Blue Ridge Community College’s campus, this institution enables students to earn both a high school diploma and college credits, recognized for its strong academic outcomes and supportive environment. (Exemplary High Performing)
- Mills Park Middle School (Wake County Public Schools): As one of North Carolina’s largest middle schools, Mills Park shines with outstanding academic performance and a collaborative teaching approach, aiming to prepare students for future success. (Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing)
- Pinehurst Elementary (Moore County Schools): Catering to pre-K through fifth grade, Pinehurst Elementary is commended for innovative teaching practices and strong community partnerships, dedicated to holistic child development. (Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing)
This newly established program by NCDPI comes in the wake of the U.S. Department of Education’s cessation of its National Blue Ribbon Program, which previously acknowledged top-performing schools nationwide. All recipients this year had met the criteria for the national award before the program’s discontinuation.
The NCDPI will formally recognize these exceptional schools at the upcoming December State Board of Education meeting.
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