Nearly 30 Texas schools, including seven in North Texas, have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The state has 31 schools out of 356 nationwide to receive the honor. See the full list below.
The New York City Department of Education said the prestigious annual awards are based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among subgroups of students.
“The National Blue Ribbon School awards are a testament to the extraordinary achievements of each school’s students and educators,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of effective instruction and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities that are raising the bar for our nation’s students. Let us celebrate their achievements and draw inspiration from these schools as we advance education as the foundation for a brighter future for all children.”
The Department of Education said, “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools fully reflect the diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While the awardees represent a wide variety of schools, they share common characteristics: National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who express a clear vision for educational excellence and maintain high standards; they demonstrate effective instructional practices and provide strong professional development for staff; they are characterized by data-driven instruction and have a concerted effort to ensure all students are successful; and collaboration among families, communities and educators is a key component of success.”
Schools eligible for the annual awards are nominated by the highest education authorities in every state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Educational Activities Agency and the Bureau of Indian Education. Up to 420 schools are nominated each year, and each must submit a comprehensive application detailing their school culture, programs, assessments, instructional methods, professional development, leadership, family and community engagement.
The Department of Education accredits all schools based on student achievement data, including assessment results, performance of student subgroups, and graduation rates.
Four of the seven North Texas schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools are in DFW, with one each in Dallas, Farmers Branch, Hurst and Plano.
Two of DFW’s four schools were private: St. Philip’s School and Community Center The schools honored were St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School in Dallas and St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School in Plano. Public schools honored were Grapevine-Colleyville College Academy, Tarrant County College Northeast in Hurst and Dave Blair Elementary School in Farmers Branch.
The other three North Texas schools were in Hillsboro, Palestine and Whiteright.
Schools that are selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools are allowed to fly the flag at the entrance to their school building or on their flagpole.
All of the Texas winners are listed below. Click here to see the national list.
Texas National Blue Ribbon School
Archer City – Archer City Elementary School, Archer City Independent School District; Booker – Bob L. Kirksey Elementary School, Booker Independent School District; Brownsville – BRYSS Academy, Raul Izaguirre School for Success; Dallas – St. Philip’s School & Community Center, St. Philip’s School and Community Center; De Leon – De Leon High School, De Leon Independent School District; Farmers Branch – Dave Blair Elementary School, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District; Flatonia – Flatonia Elementary School, Flatonia Independent School District; Galveston – Ambassadors Preparatory Academy, Ambassadors Preparatory Academy; Gruber – Gruber High School, Gruber Independent School District; Hillsboro – Hillsboro Middle School, Hillsboro Independent School District; Houston – Alief Early College High School, Alief Independent School District. Houston – Christ the Redeemer Catholic School, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Houston – St. John Paul II Catholic School, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Hurst – Grapevine-Colleyville College Academy at Tarrant County College Northeast, GCISD. Jayton – Jayton School, Jayton-Girard ISD. Laredo – Abraham Kazen Elementary School, United ISD. Laredo – Jesus A. Kawas Elementary School, Laredo ISD. Longview – Hudson Elementary School, Longview ISD. Lubbock – Rise Academy, Rise Academy. Martzon – Irion County High School, Irion County ISD. Nazareth – Nazareth School, Nazareth ISD. Palestine – Neches High School, Neches ISD. Pearland – St. Helen Catholic School, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Rome – Florence J. Scott Elementary School, Rome Independent School District. San Antonio – Robert B. Green Elementary School, Riverside Park, San Antonio Independent School District. Tyler – Caldwell Arts Academy, Tyler Independent School District. Vanderbilt – Industrial Middle School, Industrial Independent School District. Whitehouse – Gus Winston Cain Elementary School, Whitehouse Independent School District. Whitewright – Whitewright Middle School, Whitewright Independent School District.
For 2023, nine North Texas schools made the list out of 29 schools statewide.
National Blue Ribbon School Map 2024
