3 Montana schools nominated for National Blue Ribbon School award

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Office of Public Instruction announced three Montana public schools are nominated for the U.S. Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School award.

The National Blue Ribbon School award is presented to schools that show overall academic excellence and working to improve student success on a high level.

To be nominated for the National Blue Ribbon School award, schools must fit one of the following categories:

• 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.

State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen nominated Amsterdam Elementary and Anderson School in Gallatin County and Deer Park Elementary School in Flathead County for 2023.

“These elementary schools reflect educational excellence in Montana families, students, and teachers,” Arntzen said. “I am grateful to the school leaders and teachers that continue to pursue academic success for all their students. Join me in congratulating these schools on their nomination – they make Montana proud!”

The Office of Public Instruction released the following information:

State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen has nominated three Montana public schools to be considered to receive the National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The schools must show achievement in one of two categories:

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.

The following Montana schools have been nominated for 2023:

• Amsterdam Elementary (Gallatin County)
• Anderson School (Gallatin County)
• Deer Park Elementary School (Flathead County)

“These elementary schools reflect educational excellence in Montana families, students, and teachers,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “I am grateful to the school leaders and teachers that continue to pursue academic success for all their students. Join me in congratulating these schools on their nomination – they make Montana proud!”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has given awards to public and private schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools across the nation since 1982. Monforton Elementary in Bozeman was the only 2022 National Blue Ribbon School awardee in Montana. The award is based on overall academic excellence and efforts to achieve high levels of student success.

At the beginning of the calendar year the Chief State School Officer of every state sends public school nominees that meet one of the two performance criteria to the DOE. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education. The DOE invites nominated schools to apply for the National Blue Ribbon Award. The awardees are then chosen by the DOE and announced in September.