Palos 118’s West Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School
Palos West Elementary School in Palos Consolidated School District 118 has been named a National Blue Ribbon School award winner by the U.S. Department of Education.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona made the announcement on September 16.
“This is a moment of extreme pride for us here in District 118,” said Supt. Dr. Anthony Scarsella.
“For the first time in our over 160-year history, one of our schools has received national recognition for academic excellence, which, along with Palos East Elementary, and Palos South Middle School, continues our District’s legacy of maintaining high performing schools and providing a high quality education for our students,” he said.
Schools are nominated by their state’s department of education and then complete a comprehensive application about their school’s practices to apply for the honor.
National Blue Ribbon Schools are on education’s cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices from professional learning communities and project-based learning to social and emotional learning and positive behavior systems. In identifying several hundred outstanding schools annually, the program celebrates school excellence, turn around stories, and closing subgroup achievement gaps.
Palos West Elementary is among an exclusive group of just 297 public schools in the U.S. receiving the honor in 2022.
“It is an honor to continue to lead Palos West Elementary,” said Principal Jennifer Peloquin.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of all the students, staff, and families. Our staff is diligent in ensuring that students have what they need to be successful both academically and emotionally. Palos West has a positive culture built on high expectations, and we are so proud of our school community,” she said.
District 118 School officials will represent Palos West at a two-day awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., this fall with Secretary Cardona and other officials to celebrate the school’s achievement.
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