Teaghin Wiggins, left, and Tori Garcia work on math problems in Andrea Kemp's kindergarten class. Photo by Bobby Ellis, March 28, 2018

Teaghin Wiggins, left, and Tori Garcia work on math problems in Andrea Kemp’s kindergarten class at Graves Central Elementary School (Graves County). Central was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School winner.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, March 28, 2018

(Frankfort, KY) – The U. S. Department of Education (USED) named five Kentucky public schools as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, based on their overall academic excellence.

The five Kentucky schools and their districts are:

  • Huntertown Elementary (Woodford County)
  • Oak Hill Elementary (Pulaski County)
  • Paintsville Elementary (Paintsville Independent)
  • Spottsville Elementary (Henderson County)
  • Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary (Laurel County)

The Kentucky schools are among an elite group of public and private, elementary, middle and high schools across the country recognized this year. There also are six private schools in Kentucky named as part of the 2018 cohort of Blue Ribbon Schools.

In its 36-year history, the national Blue Ribbon Schools program has become a trademark of excellence and a symbol of exemplary teaching and learning recognized by everyone from parents to policy-makers.

The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories:

  • Exemplary High Performing Schools are among the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Various student group performance and high school graduation rates also are at the highest levels.
  • Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years. Student group performance and high school graduation rates for each group are at high levels.

“Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon Schools are great examples of schools that are moving student outcomes in the right direction,” Interim Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis said. “These schools are a few Kentucky examples of what is possible when schools put the needs of students first and use data to guide decision-making and strategy. The leadership, staff, students, and parents of these schools deserve all the accolade this national honor will bestow upon them.”

Representatives from each of Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon Schools will join those from other states at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7-8.

More information on the program and a list of past Kentucky winners are available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.