RALEIGH — The U.S. Department of Education has released its list of 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools with eight North Carolina public schools receiving the award.
Last year, five schools in North Carolina received the award.
“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to Raise the Bar in education,” U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
A total of 353 schools nationwide were recognized this year in the areas of overall academic performance or closing achievement gaps. This year’s winners from North Carolina were honored as “Exemplary High Performing Schools.”
The North Carolina schools winning the award this year include Beaufort County Early College High School, Beaufort County Schools; Fairview Elementary School, Buncombe County Schools; Greensboro Academy, Greensboro; Heyward C Bellamy Elementary School, New Hanover County Schools; Highland School of Technology, Gaston County Schools, Jay M. Robinson Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Lucama Elementary School, Wilson County Schools; and R. Odell Elementary School, Cabarrus County Schools.
“These schools are a shining example of the incredible things North Carolina’s public schools are capable of accomplishing,” said State Superintendent Catherine Truitt in a statement. “I’m so proud of the students, teachers, staff members, and leadership of each of these schools for their hard work over the past year.”
Started in 1982, The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program turned 40 this year and has given out 10,000 awards to over 9,000 schools during that time.
Since the program began, a total of 138 public schools in North Carolina have been recognized as Blue Ribbon schools.
