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State Board recognizes 11 New Jersey Blue Ribbon Schools as federal program winds down
Summary
The New Jersey State Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution recognizing 11 schools as 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools and noted the U.S. Department of Education's discontinuation of the federal program; district representatives accepted awards.
The New Jersey State Board of Education on Wednesday approved a resolution recognizing 11 schools as 2025 New Jersey Blue Ribbon Schools, honoring high student performance and gains in closing achievement gaps.
The board noted that on Aug. 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education notified states it would discontinue the National Blue Ribbon Schools program; New Jersey officials said they still wanted to acknowledge the schools that completed the federal application and met the program’s criteria. "These 11 schools exemplify the performance and high standards we all share for quality education across the state," Commissioner Damer said.
Jessica Merville, director of the Office of Performance Management and the state liaison for the Blue Ribbon process, read the list of schools and summarized why each was chosen, citing measures such as gains in English language arts and mathematics proficiency, four-year graduation rates and evidence of closing achievement gaps. Schools named included Bergen County Technical High School (Teterboro), Liberty High School (Jersey City), Roosevelt School (Lodi) and Ventnor Elementary School (Ventnor), among others.
Representatives from recognized districts were invited forward to receive copies of the resolution and pose for a group photo. "Congratulations to all 11 schools — really well done," Commissioner Damer said.
The board voted on the resolution by voice and recorded the vote as unanimous.
The recognition is ceremonial; board materials note the federal certification occurred in August 2025 and that the department will continue seeking ways to recognize exemplary schools in future years.
