Sixteen Michigan Blue Ribbons Schools Being Honored for Academic Achievement

November State Board of Education Meeting to Provide Deserved Recognition Following End of Federal Program

LANSING – Sixteen high-performing Michigan schools are being recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

The State Board of Education will hold a special ceremony at its Nov. 13 meeting to honor the Michigan public schools that the department nominated as Blue Ribbon Schools.

“Students and parents, school staff, and local communities deserve to be honored for the outstanding achievement by our Blue Ribbon Schools,” said Interim State Superintendent Dr. Sue C. Carnell. “These schools serve as an example to others and, at the same time, are representative of the accomplishments and progress at schools around the state.”

Michigan’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools nominated by MDE for being Exemplary High-Performing Schools, which are among the state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests, are:

•         Amerman Elementary School, Northville, Northville Public Schools.
•         Angell School, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Public Schools.
•         City High Middle School, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools.
•         Countryside Elementary School, Byron Center, Byron Center Public Schools.
•         Forest Grove Elementary School, Hudsonville, Hudsonville Public Schools.
•         Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton, Hamilton Community Schools.
•         Jeffers Elementary School, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Public Schools.
•         Lakewood Elementary School, Holland, West Ottawa Public Schools.
•         Novi Woods Elementary School, Novi, Novi Community School District.
•         Orchard Primary School, Almont, Almont Community Schools
•         Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy, Plymouth.
•         Wass Elementary School, Troy, Troy School District.
•         Weidman Elementary School, Weidman, Chippewa Hills School District.

In addition, the Council for American Private Education nominated three nonpublic schools that are being honored as Blue Ribbon Schools. They are:

•         All Saints Catholic School, Canton.
•         Bishop Foley Catholic High School, Madison Heights.
•         St. Paul the Apostle School, Grand Rapids.

In previous years, the U.S. Department of Education bestowed the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Schools designation in recognition of schools that excelled in academic performance or made significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups. However, this year the federal education department discontinued the national program after the nominations had been submitted.

“MDE and the State Board of Education want to make sure these outstanding schools in our state get the recognition they deserve,” said board President Dr. Pamela Pugh. “These Michigan schools are worthy of national attention, so it is very disappointing that Blue Ribbon Schools no longer will be honored by the U.S. Department of Education. State board members are looking forward to learning more about the successes of these schools.”

Recognition of the outstanding schools is scheduled for 9:40 a.m. during the State Board of Education meeting at the John A. Hannah Building in Lansing. The Nov. 13 meeting also will be livestreamed with a link that will be posted on the homepage of Michigan.gov/MDE on that date. Representatives of winning schools will attend.

Blue Ribbon Schools have been awarded for being Exemplary High-Performing Schools, which are among the state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. 

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