4 Arizona schools awarded 2023 National Blue Ribbon recognition

Madeleine Parrish, Arizona Republic
·2 min read

Four Arizona schools have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Since the first awards were granted in 1983, the U.S. Department of Education has designated more than 9,000 public and private schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools, including more than 140 in Arizona.

This year, 353 schools across the country received the award.

The four Arizona schools that received the 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools award are:

  • Neely Traditional Academy, Gilbert Public Schools (Gilbert)

  • Fireside Elementary School, Paradise Valley Unified School District (Phoenix)

  • Senita Valley Elementary School, Vail School District (Tucson)

  • Sunrise Drive Elementary School, Catalina Foothills Unified District (Tucson)

Schools that receive the National Blue Ribbon Award are recognized for either being exemplary high-performing schools or exemplary achievement gap-closing schools. Performance is measured by student scores and graduation rates.

All four schools in Arizona were recognized for being exemplary high-performing schools.

Jennifer Greene, the principal of Neely Traditional Academy, which serves approximately 860 students in preschool through sixth grade, said she is "extremely proud" that Neely is a recipient of the 2023 National Blue Ribbon Award.

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"All our dedicated teachers, staff, and students work hard each day to reach our potential and it is amazing to be recognized for this," Greene said in an emailed statement. "This award is for every member of our community."

Danielle Else, the principal of Fireside Elementary School, which serves approximately 720 students in preschool through sixth grade, said she is "thrilled" about the designation.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Fireside staff and families for the dedication and unwavering support leading to this achievement," Else said in an emailed statement. "The honor of receiving the 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools designation stands as a symbol of the outstanding teaching and learning environment we have collectively created."

Andrea Davidson, the principal of Sunrise Drive Elementary School, which serves approximately 530 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, said that though Sunrise Drive was recognized this year as a National Blue Ribbon School, it has "consistently offered rigorous learning experiences in an inclusive learning environment over time."

"As one of eight schools in the Catalina Foothills School District, our students benefit from challenging curriculum standards and materials and a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of our diverse learners," Davidson said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Education will formally recognize the 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools during a November ceremony in Washington, D.C.

"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," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a news release.

Madeleine Parrish covers K-12 education. Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @maddieparrish61.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4 Arizona schools awarded 2023 National Blue Ribbon recognition