New Jersey National Blue Ribbon Schools

The federally funded National Blue Ribbon Schools Program celebrates school excellence, turnaround stories, and closing student achievement gaps.

Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education nominates public schools that meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Nominated schools are then invited to apply by the U.S. Department of Education.

The information on this page reflects program information for 2025 nominations.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program (NBRS) annually honors America’s most successful public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools. NBRS recognizes both schools whose students achieve at very high levels and schools making significant progress in closing academic achievement gaps among different groups of students.

Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) reviews the data for all public schools in the state and nominates schools that meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education (USED). Non-public schools are nominated by the Council of American Private Education (CAPE). There is no application process to be considered for nomination, as all public schools in the state are considered each year.

New Jersey can nominate up to nine public schools each year across two categories: “Exemplary High Performing Schools” and “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools”. NJDOE may choose each year to nominate schools in one or both categories. At least one-third of the schools nominated must be schools with a high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Due to these restrictions, there may be schools that meet the eligibility requirements that cannot be nominated.

Month	Process
October 2024	USED releases updated guidance
October–December 2024	NJDOE determines nomination plan, compiles data, and identifies eligible schools
January 2025	Final nominees are identified and contacted by NJDOE to determine interest in applying
January-February 2025	NJDOE submits final nominees to USED and USED invites nominees to apply
February–April 2025	Nominated schools submit applications by April deadline
April–June 2025	USED reviews applications
August 2025	NJDOE certifies that nominated school have met all eligibility criteria
September 2025	USED announces the National Blue Ribbon Schools

Serves one or more of grades K–12
Open for five full years and assessed grades have been part of the school for at least three years prior to September 2024.
Has not received the National Blue Ribbon Schools award in the past five years (2020-2024)
Has at least 100 students enrolled and assessment data for at least 10 students per grade
Met most recent annual targets for statewide assessment performance and graduation rate
School assessment participation rates are at least 95%
No history of testing irregularities
Not identified as “persistently dangerous” within the last two years
Has not refused Office of Civil Rights (OCR) access to information necessary and was not issued an OCR violation
No pending suit alleging violation of one or more of the civil rights statutes of the Constitution’s equal protection clause
No findings of violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Has a nondiscrimination policy and has no outstanding findings of unlawful discrimination

School is in the top 15% of the state based on a composite score that combines performance on the 2023–2024 statewide assessment with other measures
Each historically underserved student group is in the top 40% of the state based on a composite score that combines performance on the 2023–2024 statewide assessment with other measures.
High schools are in the top 15% of the state based on 2023 graduation rate and a measure of College and Career readiness (as part of a composite score).

One or more historically underserved student group is in the top 15% of the state based an increase in performance on the 2023–2024 statewide assessment compared to two to four years before
Each historically underserved student group is in the top 40% of the state based on a composite score that combines performance on the 2023–2024 statewide assessment with other measures.
Each historically underserved student group is in the top 40% of the state based on 2023 graduation rate and a measure of College and Career Readiness (as part of a composite score).
Schoolwide improvement on the statewide assessment must equal or exceed statewide improvement.