Five Alabama schools were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools on Monday.
The schools are among 356 national recipients, which were honored for their academic performance, or for progress in closing achievement gaps. The Blue Ribbon award is the highest national honor given by the U.S. Department of Education to a school.
Alabama’s 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools include:
- EPIC Alternative Elementary School, Birmingham City.
- East Elementary School, Cullman City.
- Carver School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Dothan City.
- Crestline Elementary School, Hartselle City.
- Brookwood Forest Elementary School, Mountain Brook City.
EPIC Elementary, a competitive specialty school in Birmingham, Hartselle’s Crestline Elementary and Dothan’s STEM-focused Carver magnet school are Title I schools, meaning more than 40% of their students are economically disadvantaged.
In their applications, Alabama winners described setting strong academic and behavioral expectations for students, as well as using data and best practices to drive their success.
They also noted efforts to make their schools safe places for students to explore their interests and contribute to society: At Carver, students can take courses ranging from embryology to LEGO engineering, and at EPIC, students designed tornado aid efforts and other community service projects.
The five schools will join 130 Alabama Blue Ribbon schools that have received the honor since the program began in 1982.
“The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release. “As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”
Nominated schools complete an extensive application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures and parent and community involvement.
They are awarded based on student and subpopulation scores in state or nationally normed assessments, as well as graduation rates.
All Alabama recipients were recognized as “Exemplary High Performing” schools, which have among the highest test scores in the state.
Of this year’s national recipients, 316 were public schools and 40 were non-public schools.
