Two Central Jersey schools receive national Blue Ribbon recognition for 2022

Cheryl Makin, MyCentralJersey.com
·3 min read

Two schools in Central Jersey are among nine statewide that have been granted 2022 Blue Ribbon status by the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Friday recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbons Schools, with Metuchen's Edgar Middle School and Scotch Plains-Fanwood's William J. McGinn Elementary School among them.

The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

Metuchen School Superintendent Vincent Caputo said the award reflects the dedication and efforts of all associated with Edgar Middle School, past and present, as well as supervisors district-wide and all who support the school district. Caputo credited Edgar Middle School Principal Suzy Azevedo and Assistant Principal Neyda Evans for building upon the success of past administrators and positioning Edgar Middle School to earn the prestigious award.

"Being a National Blue Ribbon School is a huge deal,” Caputo said. “The award has been around for 39 years and this is a once-in-a-lifetime resume piece.”

Scotch Plains-Fanwood School Superintendent Joan Mast celebrated the award, saying the National Blue Ribbon School award is a reflection of the way McGinn’s teachers and staff help each student reach their potential for intellectual and personal growth. McGinn’s approach to core curriculum, instruction, and assessment mirrors the focus of the district, and each child is unique and valued as an individual with varied abilities, aptitudes, interests, needs and potential for growth, she said.

"We are proud that the U.S. Department of Education recognized what we have always known: McGinn Elementary is a very special school that is providing exceptional support to students and their families," Mast said. "My warmest congratulations to the McGinn school community and everyone who made this possible."

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has conferred approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools since 1982. In the Garden State, more than 293 schools have been granted National Blue Ribbon status in the award's lifetime.

"We are glad to celebrate the success of our New Jersey schools and acknowledge their commitment to teaching and learning," Acting New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan said. "New Jersey is one of the top states for education because our schools focus on improving the outcome for all students. I applaud the nine newest Blue Ribbon Schools for their focus on students’ well-being and achievement."

Both McGinn and Edgar schools were recognized in the Exemplary High-Performing Schools category by the DOE.

"We are honored to be amongst the nation’s top schools in earning this recognition," William J. McGinn Elementary School Principal Sasha Slocum said. "Our school’s mission to provide 'The Foundation to Grow, The Compassion to Give, The Imagination to Dream' drives our work each day. McGinn students develop compassion for others, enthusiasm for diversity and the foundational skills to be independent learners, problem-solvers and thoughtful global citizens."

Metuchen Superintendent Caputo said Principal Azevedo and Assistant Principal Evans navigated a rigorous application process to help Edgar Middle School, which currently has an enrollment of 763 students grades 5 through 8, secure the honor.

"You first must be identified as a potential Blue Ribbon School," Caputo said. "There’s a bit of good fortune involved and a lot of hard work behind it."

The other New Jersey schools that were given 2022 Blue Ribbon status are:

  • Cliffside Park School 4 of Cliffside Park School District

  • Upper School of Englewood Cliffs School District

  • Glendora Elementary School of Gloucester Township Public School District

  • Frank Defino Central Elementary School of Marlboro Township Public School District

  • Stony Brook Elementary School of Hopewell Valley Regional School District

  • Center Grove School of Randolph Township School District

  • Redwood Elementary School West of West Orange School District

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Blue Ribbon Schools 2022 include Metuchen, Scotch Plains-Fanwood