Eight Minnesota schools get 'Blue Ribbon' recognition

The schools were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for progress in narrowing achievement gaps.

September 24, 2020 at 11:46PM
A reading teacher at Centennial Elementary School in Circle Pines colored around letters of the alphabet with kindergarten students in 2008.
A reading teacher at Centennial Elementary School in Circle Pines colored around letters of the alphabet with kindergarten students in 2008. (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Eight Minnesota schools have earned national recognition for their progress in closing achievement gaps.

They are among 317 public and 50 private schools across the county named this year as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools made the list based on their overall academic performance or, as in the case of the Minnesota schools, because of their work in narrowing gaps in test scores and graduation rates between different groups of students.

The Minnesota Blue Ribbon Schools are Centennial Elementary School in Circle Pines; Grey Cloud Elementary School in Cottage Grove; Highland Elementary School in Apple Valley; Houston Elementary School in Houston; Jefferson Elementary School in Mankato; Northside Elementary School in St. James; Richmond Elementary School in Richmond; and Sunset Hill Elementary School in Plymouth.

Typically, Blue Ribbon schools are honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's awards ceremony on Nov. 12 and 13 will be virtual.

about the writer

about the writer

Erin Golden

Cities team leader

Erin Golden is a cities team leader at the Minnesota Star Tribune, working with reporters who cover Minneapolis, Hennepin County and metro suburbs. She was previously a reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune and other newspapers covering topics ranging from state politics to education to business.

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