Haddonfield School Earns National Blue Ribbon Designation

HADDONFIELD, NJ — A Haddonfield institution received national recognition. J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School was named a National Blue Ribbon School on Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) named 353 public and private schools to one of its longest-running recognition programs. Tatem was among nine New Jersey schools that received the honor this year.

"I am so proud of our staff, students and families for working together to achieve high academic expectations and to foster a caring and supportive school community," said Tatem Principal Donnetta Beatty. "This award is a result of real teamwork, talent and hard work by all members of our school family."

The designation is based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments, according to the DOE.

Tatem was honored among "Exemplary High Performing Schools" — a designation recognizing each state's top-performing schools based on state assessments or nationally normed tests. The DOE also honors schools for closing achievement gaps, but no New Jersey institutions received honors this year under the "Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools" category.

The annual selection process begins with state education departments identifying and nominating schools for the program. Nominated schools are invited to apply for the award. Following a rigorous review process, the DOE then names institutions to the National Blue Ribbon School Program.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said the schools set a "national example" for what it means to raise the bar in education.

"The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally," Cardona said.

This is the 40th year of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. About 10,000 awards have been handed out to more than 9,700 schools in that time. A formal presentation and ceremony for this year's honorees will take place mid-November in Washington, D.C.

View J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School's National Blue Ribbon profile.