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Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools

Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools

About the Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools Award Program

Blue Ribbon Logo

The National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) program was established in 1982 by Terrell H. Bell, then United States Secretary of Education, to recognize schools with exemplary academic achievement and those that excelled at closing achievement gaps. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) previously selected up to 13 public schools each year to receive the award. The national award program was discontinued in August 2025, however states were encouraged to continue recognizing schools for Blue Ribbon. 

In November 2025, MDE honored the inaugural cohort of Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools (MBRS). Moving forward, MDE will continue to recognize Michigan’s highest-performing schools by selecting up to 20 schools annually across two categories: Exemplary High-Performing Schools, carried forward from the national recognition program, and new award category, Bridging the Gap.

This page provides information about the award program. View Michigan/National Blue Ribbon awarded schools by year below.

Blue Ribbon Award Selection Process

Beginning in 2026, the MDE now recognizes Michigan’s highest-performing schools by selecting up to 20 schools annually across two categories:

  • Exemplary High-Performing Schools designation
    Up to 13 schools each year will be selected using a methodology that aligns with the former national designation process.

  • Bridging the Gap
    Up to 7 schools each year will be selected using a new methodology unique to Michigan that highlights schools making strides in closing achievement gaps.

More information on school eligibility criteria, school selection, and the school recognition process for the prestigious MBRS award can be found in the 2026 Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools Guidance document.

Blue Ribbon Picture

Blue Ribbon Schools by Award Year

Expand the sections below to view the Blue Ribbon schools awarded and the link to the press release for the respective award year.


  • Michigan’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools were:

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

    The Council for American Private Education nominated three nonpublic schools that were honored as Blue Ribbon Schools:

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

    Read the historical press release here: 
    16 Michigan Schools Awarded 2025 Blue Ribbon Recognition

  • Michigan's 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

    • Chandler Woods Charter Academy, Chandler Woods Charter Academy
    • Dearborn STEM Middle School, Dearborn Public Schools
    • Hamilton Elementary School , Troy School District
    • Handley Elementary School, Saginaw Public Schools
    • Hill Elementary School, Davison Community Schools
    • Hughes Elementary School, Marshall Public Schools
    • Lake Hills Elementary School, Grand Haven Area Public Schools
    • Meadow Ridge Elementary School, Rockford Public Schools
    • Moraine Elementary School, Northville Public Schools
    • Pellston Elementary School, Pellston Public Schools
    • Pembroke Academy, Pembroke Academy
    • Rosy Mound Elementary School, Grand Haven Area Public Schools

    Read the historical press release here:
    12 Michigan Schools Awarded 2024 National Blue Ribbon Recognition

  • Michigan's 2023 Blue Ribbon Schools were:

      • Caledonia Elementary School, Caledonia Community Schools
      • Cross Creek Charter Academy, Cross Creek Charter Academy
      • Dorr Elementary School, Wayland Union Schools
      • Gallimore Elementary School, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
      • Grand Haven – Robinson Elementary School, Grand Haven Area Public Schools
      • Houghton Elementary School, Houghton-Portage Township Schools 
      • Myers Elementary School, Grand Blanc Community Schools
      • Norway Elementary School, Norway-Vulcan Area Schools
      • Pewamo-Westphalia Elementary School, Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools
      • Roosevelt Elementary School, Lakeshore School District
      • Schroeder Elementary School, Troy School District

      Read the historical press release here:
      11 Michigan Schools Awarded 2023 National Blue Ribbon Recognition

  • Michigan's 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

    • Brown Elementary, Byron Center Public Schools
    • Marshall Elementary, Byron Center Public Schools

    Read the historical press release here:
    2 Michigan Schools Awarded 2022 National Blue Ribbon Recognition

  • Michigan's 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

    • Alaiedon Elementary School, Mason Public School District (Ingham)
    • Avoca Elementary School, Yale Public School District
    • Barnard Elementary School, Troy School District
    • Conant Elementary School, Bloomfield Hills School District
    • Douglas Elementary School, Saugatuck Public Schools
    • Dutton Elementary School, Caledonia Community School District
    • Graveraet Elementary School, Marquette Area Public School District
    • Haigh Elementary School, Dearborn City School District
    • Henry Ford Early College, Dearborn City School District
    • Lakeshore Elementary School, West Ottawa Public Schools
    • Leonard Elementary School, Troy School District
    • Martin Luther King Elementary School, Ann Arbor Public School District
    • Webber Elementary School, Lake Orion Community School District

    Read the historical press release here:
    13 Michigan Schools Awarded 2021 National Blue Ribbon Recognition

  • Blue Ribbon Schools Awarded in Years 2020 and Prior:

Questions

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  • For general information or questions about the Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools Award, selection process, or the MBRS Portal, please contact the Office of Curriculum and Instruction (OCI) at MDE-OCI@michigan.gov.

  • For technical questions about school eligibility or performance data, please contact the Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability (OEAA) at MDE-Accountability@michigan.gov.