An Ocean County School Was Just Named One Of The Country’s Best

A Thursday, September 24 press release recognized more than 350 schools across the country as "exemplary" schools in the annual Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Among the 367 schools across all 50 states were nine from New Jersey, and one right here in Ocean County.

The U.S. Department of Education singled out Island Heights Elementary School as an "Exemplary High Performing School".

The Department of Education has been running the Blue Ribbon Schools Program for nearly 40 years, since 1982. According to the program's website:

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content

Here's the full list of New Jersey schools that have been recognized this year:

• Clark Mills School - Manalapan
• Gould/Mountain School - North Caldwell
• HCST County Prep School - Jersey City
• Henry B. Milnes Elementary School - Fair Lawn
• Island Heights Elementary School - Island Heights
• Lillian M. Steen School - Bogota
• Old Turnpike School - Clifton
• Riverview Elementary School - Denville
• School No. 5 - Linden

The Thursday press release says that "Exemplary High Performing Schools" are recognized as being, "...among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests."

Last year, Communications High School in Wall received the Blue Ribbon School honor, the year before that, in 2018, Saint Dominic School in Brick was recognized.

You can read the full U.S. Department of Education press release on the 2020 Blue Ribbon Schools Program by clicking here.

You can search through this year's honorees as well as those from previous years by clicking here.