Kirkwood High School was one of eight Missouri schools to earn a 2022 National Blue Ribbon Award. On September 16, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

”This honor would not be possible without the dedication of our teachers, hard work of our staff and amazing accomplishments of our students,” said Dr. Mike Havener, principal of KHS. “Today is definitely a great day to be a Pioneer.” 

“Congratulations to the staff and students of Kirkwood High School for being named a National Blue Ribbon School,” said Superintendent David Ulrich. “This is an outstanding accomplishment and it’s a direct reflection of the quality educational experiences available to meet the needs of our students.” 

KHS is planning additional celebrations to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Past KSD National Blue Ribbon award recipients include Keysor Elementary School (2013), North Glendale Elementary School (2014), Westchester Elementary School (2007 and 2019) and North Kirkwood Middle School (1996 and 2021). 

Additional information released from the U.S. Department of Education:

U.S. Department of Education Announces 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour.

“I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”

With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement.

National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. 

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

·       Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

·       Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at https://www.nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/.