New Jersey Announces 11 Schools as 2025 Blue Ribbon Honorees

UPDATE: New Jersey has just announced the selection of 11 schools as recipients of the state’s inaugural Blue Ribbon Schools Award for 2025. This new initiative comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s cancellation of the longstanding National Blue Ribbon Schools program in August 2023, ending a 43-year tradition of national recognition.

The New Jersey Department of Education has stepped up to honor these schools that were chosen before the federal program’s abrupt termination. Among the distinguished schools, nine public and two private institutions are being celebrated for their commitment to excellence in education.

The winners include three schools from Bergen County and two from Jersey City, along with institutions in Atlantic, Camden, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties. The complete list is as follows:

– Audubon — Mansion Avenue School
– East Brunswick — Hatikvah International Academy Charter School
– Englewood — The Elisabeth Morrow School (private)
– Glen Ridge — Ridgewood Avenue School
– Holmdel — Indian Hill School
– Jersey City — Liberty High School
– Jersey City — Our Lady of Czestochowa School (private)
– Lodi — Roosevelt School
– Princeton — Littlebrook School
– Teterboro — Bergen County Technical High School
– Ventnor — Ventnor Elementary School

The announcement was made during a state Board of Education meeting last week, highlighting the collaborative efforts of educators and communities to foster academic success. New Jersey’s Education Commissioner, Kevin Dehmer, stated,

“New Jersey’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools demonstrate what is possible when educators, students, and communities work together to support academic growth and opportunity for all learners.”

These awards reflect the state’s commitment to maintaining high educational standards and recognizing schools that excel in both achievement and efforts to close opportunity gaps. Dehmer emphasized that the Blue Ribbon distinction continues to spotlight schools that set a benchmark for success across New Jersey.

In 2024, New Jersey had selected 11 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools, marking a notable increase from nine in 2023. The new state-level initiative aims to sustain this recognition and celebrate excellence in education, even without the federal program.

As New Jersey moves forward with its Blue Ribbon Schools Award, parents, educators, and students are encouraged to celebrate this recognition. The state’s approach follows the established criteria of the former national program, reinforcing the importance of effective teaching methods and strong administrative leadership.

For those interested in the future of education in New Jersey, the next steps include further evaluations and potential expansions of this recognition program. This initiative is expected to positively impact the academic landscape, encouraging other schools to strive for excellence in educational outcomes.

Stay tuned for more updates on New Jersey’s educational initiatives and the ongoing developments in the Blue Ribbon Schools program.