The 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools list of 297 schools was announced on Friday, Sept. 16, by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Twenty-nine schools made the California list and 10 are in Los Angeles County.
Schools chosen for the honor were judged on overall academic performance or the school’s progress in bringing up academic scores from student subgroups. The two categories are based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates.
“I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams,” said Secretary of Education Cardona, in a press release.
“As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”
“Exemplary High-Performing Schools” are defined as being among the state’s highest performing schools measured by state assessments or national tests. “Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools” are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
These schools in Los Angeles County made the list:
Arcadia
Foothills Middle School, Arcadia Unified School District
Cerritos
Carmenita Middle School, ABC Unified School District
Helen Wittmann Elementary School, ABC Unified School District
Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar High School, Walnut Valley Unified School District
Long Beach
Newcomb Academy, Long Beach Unified School District
Rolling Hills Estates
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
San Dimas
Arma J. Shull Elementary School, Bonita Unified School District
Sherman Oaks
Kester Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District
South Pasadena
South Pasadena Middle School, South Pasadena Unified School District
Valley Village
Colfax Charter Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, established in 1982, has recognized public and private schools from 1983-2022 with more than 10,000 awards going to more than 9,000 schools — some schools have won multiple awards.
Back in 1983, these schools in Los Angeles County received the award:
Artesia HS in Lakewood; Bishop Amat Memorial in West Covina; Montebello Intermediate School in Montebello; the Crossroads School in Santa Monica; Valley Christian HS in Cerritos; West HS in Torrance.
Schools awarded the honor may fly the National Blue Ribbon School flag or display it in their school’s entryway.
Information on National Blue Ribbon Schools: bit.ly/3UsbIUG
Information on the program from the California Department of Education: www.cde.ca.gov/TA/sr/br/index.asp
Archives of schools honored nationally: www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/archives.html and from 1982-2018: www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf