Vienna School Among America’s Healthiest Schools For Health And Wellness Strategies

VIENNA, VA — A Vienna school was Virginia's only private school ranked on Alliance for a Healthier Generation's America’s Healthiest Schools awards in 2024.

The awards recognized 879 schools in 30 states for introducing practices to support the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of students, staff and families. Schools were able to apply to be recognized in nine categories: strengthening social-emotional health and learning, cultivating staff well-being, increasing family and community engagement, improving nutrition and food access, implementing local school wellness policy, bolstering physical education and activity, enriching health education, promoting tobacco-free schools, and supporting school health services. There were 66 schools earning the all-star status from recognition in all nine categories.

"As educators across the nation grapple with challenges from historic levels of chronic absenteeism to a youth mental health crisis, America’s Healthiest Schools serve as models of resilience and determination," said Healthier Generation CEO Kathy Higgins. "With support from Healthier Generation’s resources and staff, these award-winning schools are implementing best practices and policies to better serve their learning communities."

Vienna's Our Lady of Good Counsel School, which is part of the Diocese of Arlington Catholic Schools, earned five of the nine category recognitions — cultivating staff well-being, implementing local school wellness policy, bolstering physical education and activity, enriching health education and supporting school health services. The school has about 500 students across preschool, elementary and middle school.

Principal Robin Williams gave credit to School Nurse Jennifer Bliven as the "force" behind the school's award for promoting health and wellness.

"We are extremely proud and honored to be recognized for the second year in a row by Healthier Generation as one of America’s Healthiest Schools," said Bliven. "We are excited to continue to promote wellness across the school for students, families, and staff. We hope to continue to grow as a healthy community in the years to come."

The other Virginia schools in the ranking are in Prince William County Public Schools — Ashland Elementary School in Manassas, Buckland Mills Elementary School in Gainesville, Kilby Elementary School in Woodbridge, Minnieville Elementary School in Woodbridge, Parkside Middle School in Manassas, Piney Branch Elementary School in Bristow and Victory Elementary School in Bristow.