2 Tucson Schools Selected As U.S. Blue Ribbon Schools

TUCSON, AZ — Several Arizona schools were honored as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday, including two in Tucson. The award recognizes a school’s overall academic performance as well the commitment by staff to help students succeed.

In all, 325 schools were named to the 2021 list. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has given approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.

Included on this year’s list are five schools located in Arizona.

Here’s a look at this year’s winners:

Jacob C. Fruchthendler Elementary School, Tucson

• School Type: Elementary school
• District: Tucson Unified School District

Mesquite Elementary School, Tucson

• School Type: Elementary school
• District:Vail Unified School District

Desert View Academy, Yuma

• School Type: Elementary school
• District: Juniper Tree Academy School District

Franklin East Elementary School, Mesa

• School Type: Elementary school
• District:Mesa Public Schools

University High School, Tolleson

• School Type: High school
• District:Tolleson Union High School District

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year, according to the Department of Education. Nominees are selected by top education officials in states and territories, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Blue Ribbon Schools are then selected based on their performance in one of two categories:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools: These are among a state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools: These are among a state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between all other students and according to a school’s student groups.

Schools are also selected based on student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates.

This year’s nominees “illustrate what is possible” during tough times, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release.

"I commend this school and all our Blue Ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs,” Cardona said in the release. “In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children.”