Three Arkansas schools named 2023 National Blue Ribbon schools

Little Rock, Arkansas – The US Department of Education named 353 schools, including three in Arkansas, National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023.

National Blue Ribbon Schools for Arkansas included the following institutions:
• Cabot – Westside Elementary School, Cabot School District.
• Danville – S. C. Tucker Elementary School, Danville School District.
• Van Buren – Parkview Elementary School, Van Buren School District.
“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,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. As the Biden-Harris Administration partners with states and schools to accelerate academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators, serving students, and engaging families.”

The National Blue Ribbon School Program was the idea of Terrel H. Bell, the second Secretary of Education, who held the position from 1981 to 1985, according to the National Blue Ribbon website. Bell, who is credited with initiating the research on American education that led to the publication of A Nation at Risk, established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award in 1982.

According to a press release, a school’s overall academic success or its work toward narrowing achievement gaps between student subgroups on exams are the basis for recognition.

According to the Department, all schools are classified into one of two performance categories according to the sum of all student scores, student scores for subgroups, and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students. Nominated schools also complete an extensive narrative application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement.

Each year, 420 schools may submit nominations.

The Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education, the District of Columbia, the top education officials in each state, and U.S. territories are invited to submit nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award.