Six Tennessee schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic performance or their work to close achievement gaps between student groups
The US Department of Education named Brentwood Middle School, Middle College at Austin Peay State University, Crosswind Elementary School, Fairmont Elementary School, Linden Elementary School, and Nolan Elementary School as 2023 Tennessee National Blue Ribbon Schools.
“Congratulations to the six Tennessee schools recognized as 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “What an incredible achievement to show your dedication to closing achievement gaps and providing opportunities for all students to succeed. Thank you to the educators and district and school leaders for your commitment to providing a great education to your students every day.”
The six Tennessee schools are among 353 schools across the country that are receiving this award and the announcement marks the third time for Brentwood Middle School.
“We’re really proud of this tradition we have at Brentwood Middle,” said BMS Principal Dr. Bill Harlin. “We just celebrated 50 years, and this is the third time BMS has been awarded the National Blue Ribbon School designation since 2006. We’re really excited for our fine arts, our academics and certainly our athletics, even as of now when we’re under construction for the new building. This is a great foundation, figuratively and literally, with the National Blue Ribbon School Award, and we’re really excited about that.”
The US Department of Education recognizes schools in one of two performance categories after evaluating student scores, student group 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.
For the past 40 years, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has granted approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,700 schools.
