OHIO — The U.S. Department of Education designated 19 Ohio schools as Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023 on Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The 19 are a part of 353 schools nationwide to receive the designation

  • The honor is “based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments," according to the U.S. Department of Education. 

  • Just 420 schools can be nominated for the distinction each year.

The 19 are a part of 353 schools nationwide to receive the designation. The honor is “based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments," according to the U.S. Department of Education. 

“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 in a press release. “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."

Here are the 2023 Ohio Blue Ribbon Schools: 

  • Akron – Saint Sebastian Parish School, Diocese of Cleveland
  • Ashville – Walnut Elementary School, Teays Valley Local Schools
  • Berlin Center – Western Reserve Elementary School, Western Reserve Local Schools
  • Canal Fulton – Northwest Middle School, Northwest Local School District
  • Chesterland – Robert C Lindsey Elementary School, West Geauga Local Schools
  • Cincinnati – Saint Mary School, Archdiocese of Cincinnati 
  • Cincinnati – Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati Public Schools
  • Fort Recovery – Fort Recovery Middle School, Fort Recovery Local Schools
  • Granville – Granville Middle School, Granville Exempted Village Schools 
  • Lakewood – Lakewood Catholic Academy, Diocese of Cleveland
  • Loveland – Saint Margaret of York Elementary School, Archdiocese of Cincinnati
  • Mount Vernon – East Elementary School, Mount Vernon City
  • Parma Heights – Incarnate Word Academy, Diocese of Cleveland
  • Rocky River – Kensington Intermediate School, Rocky River City School District
  • Solon – Orchard Middle School, Solon City Schools
  • Sugarcreek – Ragersville Elementary School, Garaway Local Schools
  • Uniontown – Lake Middle/High School, Lake Local School District
  • Westlake – Saint Bernadette Elementary School, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland 
  • Youngstown – Robinwood Lane Elementary School, Boardman Local Schools

The U.S. Department of Education said the schools fall in one of two performance categories:

  • Exemplary High-Performing Schools: Their state's highest performing schools, measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests
  • Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools: Their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between student groups and all students.

The U.S. Department of Education said National Blue Ribbon Schools help hold other schools to high standards, demonstrate effective and innovative teaching and show that they value and support teachers, students and staff. 

Just 420 schools can be nominated for the distinction each year. This year is the 40th cohort of the program. So far, the program has given around 10,000 awards to more than 9,700 schools.