Three Naperville schools are among this year’s 356 National Blue Ribbon winners announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Education.
Scott Elementary School and Naperville Central High School in Naperville School District 203 and Neuqua Valley High School in Indian Prairie School District 204 have been chosen for the honor, which recognizes schools based on student performance data, including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates.
Only 18 schools from Illinois were selected. The maximum number of schools that can be nominated nationwide is 420, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which in a news release said that those that make the list serve as a model of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation.
Scott Elementary principal Hugh Boger said the award is a testament to the school’s hard-working, skilled and caring staff at the school.
The school, located at 500 Warwick Drive and with an enrollment of 444, is united by its “Together We Can” school motto, Boger said.
“We celebrate our differences and learn from one another, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students,” the school’s Blue Ribbon application said. “Together, we are stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate. We are proud to be a part of this diverse and inclusive community, where every voice is valued and every individual is respected.”
Boger said one of the school’s accomplishments is the Eagle’s Nest program implemented last year. Through the initiative, students of all grade levels get together once a month in small groups of eight to 12 to participate in team building activities, arts and crafts and other lessons designed to foster a sense of belonging, he said.
It’s not uncommon for a fifth-grade student to high five a first-grader as part of the connection they’ve formed in the Eagle’s Nest, Boger said.
Most importantly, the staff cares very much about each of the students and is committed to positive interactions that influence their educational journeys, he said.
Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave., has 2,530 students and takes pride in the multiple generations of children who have attended the school, principal Jackie Thornton said. It also has a high retention rate for educators, she said.
“When students walk into the classroom, there is an obvious warmth and care and an effort to know students as individuals,” Thornton said.
School officials also encourage students to connect through extracurricular activities, athletics or clubs to make the school community more tight-knit and provide a sense of belonging both in and outside the classroom, Thornton said. School officials also interview and listen to students to learn how they are or aren’t connecting in school, she said.
One successful program is the SOAR, or Success of All Redhawks, that was introduced in January 2022. The SOAR period twice a week allows students to have options on how they spend their time. They can make up tests, get help from teachers or get work done, allowing flexibility to a traditional school day, Thornton said.
Naperville Central has high expectations for its staff and its students, she said.
About 94% of its students enroll in a two- or four-year college after graduation. The school also has nearly 60 courses in the Career and Technical Education department and allows students to earn diploma endorsements in seven career pathways from technology to entrepreneurship. Students can also earn the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy or Illinois Global Scholar endorsements.
“Redhawk educators take pride in the learning experiences offered at NCHS and the level of success our students demonstrate,” its application said. “We are an organization focused on continuous learning and improvement that will not be satisfied until we confidently say that all our students are learning at high levels.”
District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges said the district has earned 12 National Blue Ribbon School awards since 2002.
“This recognition celebrates the dedication of our educators, families and communities in creating safe, welcoming schools where students thrive in challenging and engaging environments,” he said in a statement.
Neuqua Valley High School learned Monday that they received a National Blue Ribbon award for the second time since 2017. (Naperville Sun file photo)
Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St., serves 2,955 students who are driven and college-focused, its application said.
The community has high expectations for their children and wants to see them challenged in school. They want their graduates to have opportunities to attend highly-selective universities, its application said.
“To help students succeed while at our school and to prepare students for success after graduation, we focus on core skills and traits that serve every student in a wide range of experiences, in and out of the classroom,” its application said.
Neuqua Valley noted that it was awarded a National Blue Ribbon School in 2017. Their past award has allowed school officials to reflect on their best practices and what makes a difference for the students, principal Lance Fuhrer said.
“If you consistently focus on a set of core principles and priorities, you will help kids learn, grow and thrive,” he said.
For 14 years, the school has created a faculty handbook with three main instructional priorities to navigate Neuqua, Fuhrer said. These goals ensure students have access to the curriculum and resources they need to thrive, are able to advocate for themselves and recognize where and how to get help when needed, and are focused on academics and advanced literacy skills to create deeper meaning in difficult text, he said.
High school is a time where students are discovering their passions and how to use their voice, he said.
The staff and the greater school community supports its students, Fuhrer said.
“Our faculty is number 1,” he said. “They are outstanding, highly experienced, committed and passionate. We have a huge responsibility and we hold ourselves accountable.”
In a news release, School District 204 Superintendent Adrian B. Talley commended the hard work and dedication of Neuqua Valley staff and students for earning this recognition and recognized the role feeder schools have played.
“This achievement is not the result of one person or one year,” Talley said in a statement. “Rather, it is a culmination of years of hard work from the staff at the school as well as the feeder schools that prepared the students for high school. This award also celebrates the hard work of the students and their families.”
National Blue Ribbon Schools were recognized in 46 states plus Washington, D.C., the Department of Defense Education Activity and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Illinois had the fourth most National Blue Ribbon Schools selected after California, Texas and New York.
“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release.
This year’s cohort included 316 public schools and 40 private schools.
Schools recognized with the honor will be presented with a flag to be displayed in their entryway or on a flagpole.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
