Since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized public and private schools based on their overall academic excellence or progress in closing the achievement gap among student subgroups. Each year the U.S. Department of Education celebrates the achievements of these great American schools. Throughout its 38-year history, the program has recognized over 9,000 schools and this year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognized 325 schools nationwide. Of the 325 schools, 38 honorees are schools serving a Hispanic student population ranging from 40 to 100 percent, located in 11 states.

Hispanics make up 27.2 percent of all K-12 public school students. These National Blue Ribbon Schools are leading the way in preparing Hispanic students for academic success. The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics (Initiative) celebrates each one for this national recognition. The Initiative congratulates the administration, staff, teachers, families, and communities that collaborate to ensure Hispanic students are succeeding. These schools are models for other schools with a high or growing Hispanic population on achieving excellence in academic achievement and closing academic gaps. The variety of programming within these schools demonstrates that when students are placed in the education setting that best fits them, excellence follows. The Initiative looks forward to further highlighting these schools and sharing their success.

The 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools with a high Hispanic student population are:

In addition, the Department annually recognizes outstanding school leaders from National Blue Ribbon Schools through the Terrel H. Bell Award. This award recognizes principals for their vision and collaborative leadership style that have transformed their schools. This year, the Department recognized eight remarkable principals. Four of the principals are from National Blue Ribbon Schools with a high Hispanic student population.

• Angela Marie Silvaggio, Mesquite Elementary School, Mesquite, NM
• Elisa Brown, PS 249 –The Caton School, Brooklyn, NY
• Sonia Anna Flores, Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, Gilroy, CA
• Sophia Acevedo, Calder Road Elementary School, Dickinson, TX

The Initiative congratulates the school leaders, principals, support staff, and teachers for their achievements as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools honorees.