Three of the state’s elementary schools and a middle school are in the inaugural 2025 class of “Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools.” Governor Kim Reynolds led a ceremony in Des Moines to honor schools in the Albia, Dubuque, George-Little Rock, and College Community districts.
Iowa Department of Education director McKenzie Snow says the four schools recognized are models of excellence.
Albia’s middle school was recognized for its efforts to raise student test scores. The district’s junior high students, for example, exceed the statewide proficiency score in science by 22 points. Albia Superintendent Richard Montgomery says everyone on staff gets credit.
In 2018, George Little Rock’s elementary school was identified as one of the state’s lowest-performing schools, but state officials say all students are now performing at high levels. Amanda Miller is the district’s superintendent.
Prairie Hill Elementary in the College Community District in Cedar Rapids has been recognized for dramatically reducing chronic absenteeism. That’s 10 points below the state average. Principal Scott Schipper (SHIHP-er) says a few years ago, 17 percent of students had been chronically absent — and it’s now five percent. That’s 10 points below the state average.
The Dubuque Community School District’s Bryant Elementary is being recognized for the rising reading scores of kindergarten through fifth-grade students, as two-thirds of those students are exceeding expectations, according to state officials. Megan Richardson is the school’s principal.
The Trump Administration ended the national “Blue Ribbon” program honoring high-performing schools this summer. Iowa officials announced the winners of their inaugural Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools program on Wednesday (October 29) afternoon.
Story is courtesy of our affiliate Radio Iowa | Featured Photo is courtesy of George-Little Rock’s website
