Palos East Elementary School in Palos Consolidated School District 118 has been named a National Blue Ribbon School award winner by the U.S. Department of Education.
U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, made the announcement on September 23 that Palos East Elementary has been named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
Schools are nominated by their state’s department of education and then complete a comprehensive application about their school’s practices to apply for the honor.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are on education’s cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices from professional learning communities and project-based learning to social and emotional learning and positive behavior systems. In identifying several hundred outstanding schools annually, the program celebrates school excellence, turnaround stories, and closing subgroup achievement gaps.
Palos East Elementary is among an exclusive group of public schools in the U.S. receiving the honor in 2024.
“This is a moment of extreme pride for us here in District 118,” said Dr. Anthony Scarsella, Superintendent of Schools.
“For just the second time in our 160-year history, one of our schools has received national recognition for academic excellence. This recognition is another example of our District’s legacy of maintaining high performing schools and providing a high-quality education for our students,” he said.
“We are tremendously honored to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School,” said Palos East Principal Rob Szklanecki.
“This award reflects our staff’s focus on learning, commitment to collaboration, and drive to make a difference for all students. I couldn’t be prouder of our Palos East community.”
“On behalf of the entire Palos 118 School Board, I want to express our immense pride in seeing Palos East receive the National Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Palos 118 Board President Pam Paris.
“This recognition reflects the dedication, hard work, and commitment of our students, staff, and families at Palos East. We are beyond excited to see them recognized on the national stage for their continuing excellence,” she said.
District 118 School officials will represent Palos East at a two-day awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., this fall with Secretary Cardona and other officials to celebrate the school’s achievement.