Rhode Island Awards Blue Ribbon To 3 Schools

Rhode Island recognized three of the state's schools with the newly established State of Rhode Island Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Program.

The three Blue Ribbon schools are Melville Elementary School in Portsmouth, Pocasset Elementary School in Tiverton, and Robert L. Bailey IV Elementary School in Providence.

The three Rhode Island Blue Ribbon schools had been nominated for the national Blue Ribbon award earlier this year and were awaiting the Department of Education's official announcement recognizing their achievement, according to a media release from the Rhode Island Department of Education.

That official announcement, however, was not likely to ever happen, the release said.

"In late August, the Federal Department of Education (ED) abruptly ended the longstanding National Blue Ribbon program, which was established by President Reagan in 1982," the release said. "Using long-established federal criteria, Melville Elementary was selected as an Exemplary High Performing School. Both Pocasset Elementary and Bailey Elementary were selected as Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools."

Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green said the three schools were deserving of the honor.

“While we are deeply disappointed by the federal government’s unexpected cancellation of the Blue Ribbon program, we remain committed to celebrating the achievements of Rhode Island’s exceptional schools,” Infante-Green said in the release. “Melville Elementary School, Pocasset Elementary School, Robert L. Bailey, IV Elementary School exemplify excellence in teaching and learning and their student and teachers deserve this honor.”

See also:

• Top 10 Private High Schools In RI Revealed In New Ranking
• These Are The Best Public High Schools In RI, New Ranking Says
• ACLU Calls Barrington Teacher Probe Over Charlie Kirk Comments 'Disturbing'
• No More Cellphones For Students In Rhode Island Schools Next Year
• The Top 25 High Schools In Rhode Island For 2025-26: U.S. News & World Report