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 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, CT
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 789
Award year: 2024
Type of School: High School
From left to right: Chris Farrell, Athletic Director; Anthony Salutari Jr., Principal; Melanie Whitcher, Assistant Principal; and Brian Bodner, Assistant Principal.
Local 2 – Chicago Principals’ Association
Hawthorne Scholastic Academy – Chicago, IL
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 619
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Magnet School
From left to right: Principal Trish Davlantes; AP Ellie McCabe.
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
Fordham High School for the Arts – Bronx, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 345
Award year: 2024
Type of School: High School, Title I School
From left to right: Nicholas Verrillo (AP), Alyson Weaver (AP), Michael Johnson, Jr. (Principal), and Maha Hasen (AP).
Local 146 – Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals
Bells Mill Elementary School – Potomac, MD
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 596
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
From left to right: Leadership Team: Mrs. Rachael Abramson (BMES Reading Specialist), Mrs. Brooks Kemp (Former Asst. Principal), Mrs. Sarah Havenstein (Counselor), Dr. Stacy Smith (Principal) Mr. Mark Fenton, (BMES Staff Development Teacher), and Ms. Tiffany Jackson, (Special Education Resource Lead).
Standing with the Chief of Schools, Dr. Peter Moran and the Superintendent of MCPS, Dr. Tomas Taylor
Local 81 – Union of Berkeley Administrators
John Muir Elementary School – Berkeley, CA
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 271
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Title I School
From left to right and leadership team: Principal Paco Furlan, 5th grade teacher Jessica Mejia-Smith, Kg 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, VI
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 to right: Natasha O'Halloran-Smith (Principal) and Valda Austrie (AP)
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
PS 130 Elementary School – Bayside, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 378
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School, Choice School
From left to right: Picture of SLT: Faviola Serpas, Parent; Elizabeth Ort, Teacher; Jennifer Boucher, Parent; Nicole Sullivan, Parent; Catherine Specchia, Principal; Loreli Aguiar, Assistant Principal; Linda Fischler, Teacher; Na Lin, Parent; Kimberly Williams, PTA Co-President
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
MS 255 Salk School of Science – New York, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 373
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Middle School
From left to right: Ahmed Shah – Technology, Marsha Wallace – Assistant Principal, Brian Long – Math, Jake Wizner – Humanities, Rhonda Perry – Principal, Marcel Pezet – Humanities, Jake Leibold – Math, Ling Teo – Humanities, Patti Burr – Parent Coordinator, Lorin Schneider – Social Worker
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
PS 184 Shuang Wen – New York, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 736
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
From left to right: Chris Fuchs (AP), Jenny Kwong (AP), Jeremy Kabinoff, Ed.D (Principal), Lauren Degeorge (AP).
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
PS 35 The Clove Valley School – Staten Island, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 394
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
From left to right: Principal Melissa Garofalo and AP Erin O’Hanlon with Teaching Staff
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
PS 150 – New York, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 241
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
Bell Award Winner
From left to right: Principal Nico Victorino and AP Naiching Liu
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
Louis Pasteur Middle School 67Q – Little Neck, NY
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 946
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Middle School
From left to right: 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, MI
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 162
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Middle School, Title I School
From left to right: Team Leader Jennifer Fryzel, Director Amal Alcodray, Principal Oussama Baydoun, and Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko for Dearborn Public Schools
Local 1 – Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
PS 166 The Richard Rodgers School of the Arts and Technology
Nomination category: Exemplary High Performing Schools
Total number of students: 606
Award year: 2024
Type of School: Elementary School
Principal: Debra Mastriano
