Not Federally Noted: Clarendon Hills Schools Win Awards

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills Middle and Walker Elementary schools did not get federal recognition for a top award, as originally expected.

But Illinois stepped in and acknowledged the 28 schools that received the Blue Ribbon School award this year.

Besides the local schools, nearby public schools that received the honor were Pleasantdale Middle School and Lyons Township High School.

Area private school recipients included St. John of the Cross Parish School in Western Springs and Timothy Christian's elementary school in Elmhurst.

For four decades, the U.S. Department of Education has designated and honored Blue Ribbon schools.

In August, schools were notified of receiving the federal award. But later the same month, the Department of Education ended the program. So recipients will not be honored in Washington this time around.

Earlier this month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a ceremony acknowledging the recipients.

To earn the Blue Ribbon distinction, schools must rank in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state, with every student subgroup performing in the top 40 percent on state assessments.

District 181 created a video highlighting the achievement.

In District 181, Prospect Elementary won the award in 2021, Elm Elementary in 2020, Madison Elementary in 2019 and 2009, Monroe Elementary in 2016, Oak School in 2014, The Lane School Elementary in 2011 and Hinsdale Middle School in 2009.