Minnesota Recognizes Eight Schools for Excellence
Schools Nominated as National Blue Ribbon Schools in 2025
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Department of Education today recognizes eight outstanding schools for excelling in academic performance or making significant strides in closing achievement gaps.
Commissioner Willie Jett recognized the schools this week at the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association (MESPA) Institute. These eight schools were nominated by Minnesota for consideration as 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools, but the U.S. Department of Education ended the program and did not name any National Blue Ribbon Schools in 2025. Minnesota is now recognizing the schools for their achievement.
“These eight schools are doing outstanding work and deserve recognition. Other schools look up to Blue Ribbon Schools for strategies to improve performance and better serve all students,” said Commissioner Willie Jett. “In Minnesota we believe that every student deserves access to a high-quality education, and these schools are embodying that mission. They are an example of what educators can achieve when they make their school a place where all students can learn, grow, and thrive.”
Exemplary High Performing Schools
- Dakota Hills Middle School, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District
- Pike Lake Elementary, Proctor Public Schools
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools
- Browns Valley Elementary School, Browns Valley School District
- Kennedy Elementary School, Mankato Public School District
Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools
- Forest Hills Elementary School, Eden Prairie Public Schools
- Hassan Elementary, Elk River Public School District
- Northfield Middle School, Northfield Public School District
-
Valley Crossing Elementary School, South Washington County Schools
Exemplary High Performing Schools are schools that are among the top performers in the state as measured by assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are schools that excel in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body.
Earning recognition in both the Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing categories is rare and means the school ranks not only among the highest-performing schools in the state but also leads in closing achievement gaps. This reflects both academic excellence and a commitment to ensuring all students are being served with a high-quality education.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognized high-performing schools and schools that were making great strides in closing achievement gaps from 1982 until 2024. During the more than 40 years of the program, it recognized over 9,000 exemplary public and non-public schools nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education terminated the program in 2025.
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