The United States Department of Education featured six schools across Queens in their annual Blue Ribbon Schools Program designation report that was released on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Across the nation, 353 schools were recognized as a Blue Ribbon school this year based on academic metrics such as performance and progress made to close achievement gaps on assessments. In New York, 22 schools were selected.
Bayside’s P.S. 205 Alexander Graham Bell and two schools in Flushing – P.S. 242 LP Stavisky Early Childhood School and P.S. 244 The Active Learning Elementary School (TALES) – were recognized for the second time.
The Academy For Excellence Through The Arts in Forest Hills, a drama, visual arts and music focused public elementary school, was also featured on the list. Further east in the borough, P.S. 221 North Hills Elementary School in Little Neck and Denton Avenue Elementary School in New Hyde Park were selected.
“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.
While the Blue Ribbon designation can be awarded to private schools, as well as high schools and middle schools, only public elementary schools in Queens were selected this year.
“Being named a Blue Ribbon School is an outstanding achievement and I congratulate these local schools for attaining this prestigious recognition,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng, who represents four of the schools selected. “It underscores the hard work and dedication of the entire school team, and I am proud to have the schools in my congressional district and serving children in our communities. Our kids are our future, and their education must always be a top priority.”
Up to 420 schools can be nominated each year, generally by the top ranked education official in the state. Private schools can be nominated by the Council for American Private Education.
This year marks the 40th cohort of the Blue Ribbon Schools Schools Program awardees since the program started in 1982. Since then, 10,000 awards have been presented to over 9,700 schools across the country.
