The U.S. Department of Education today recognized 353 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments. Dorr Elementary of Wayland Union Schools has the honor of receiving one of those recognitions.
Dorr Elementary received the award in the Exemplary High-Performance Schools category. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Dorr Elementary qualified for the award because student subgroups at Dorr Elementary outperformed their statewide subgroup peers on the 3rd grade M-STEP for the 2022 and 2023 school years.
“We are so proud of the staff and students for their accomplishments in being named a National Blue Ribbon school. The focus, commitment, and leadership of this staff make all at Dorr Elementary deserving of this great recognition! A small team of administrators from Dorr Elementary and Central Office have been working on this application process for about a year now and have had to keep it a secret. It is very exciting to finally be able to share the news and celebrate with our community.” said Tim Reeves, Superintendent.
“It’s really exciting that in the last six years, we’ve had two elementary schools receive recognition at the national level”, said Teresa Fulk, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. In 2017, Steeby Elementary was recognized as a National Title I Distinguished School, and today Dorr Elementary as a National Blue Ribbon School. These prestigious, highly coveted awards are a testament to the work that our teachers and instructional staff are doing inside our schools and classrooms every day. Our district has made an investment and continues to invest in, creating a culture and providing an instructional program that meets the needs of ALL students. I am proud of the work that is happening at Dorr Elementary and Wayland Union Schools. It’s a great day to be a Wildcat!”
“The Dorr Team is fully committed to see all students succeed. ALL means ALL!!” said Robin Seniura, Dorr Principal. “I am so proud of the vision they maintain and the work they do each and every day through relationship building, high academic standards, and strong work ethic. Our students in turn work hard and achieve! We also must give credit to our families and community who walk beside us on this journey.”
The recognition of Dorr Elementary as a National Blue Ribbon School builds on an established culture of excellence. Dorr Elementary was previously awarded a Blue Ribbon award from the Michigan Department of Education during the 1998-1999 school year.
“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. “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. As the Biden-Harris Administration partners with states and schools to accelerate academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators, serving students, and engaging families.”
With its 40th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,700 schools. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement. National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the full diversity of American schools and serve students of every background.
While awardee schools represent the diverse fabric of American schools, they also share some core elements. National Blue Ribbon School leaders articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards. They demonstrate effective and innovative teaching and learning, and the schools value and support teachers and staff through meaningful professional learning. Data from many sources are used to drive instruction and every student strives for success. Families, communities, and educators work together toward common goals.
National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective and innovative school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
- Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
- Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
Nominated schools also complete an extensive narrative application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.