State names 24 Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools for 2026

Gov. JB Pritzker’s office has named 24 schools as 2026 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools, 16 of them public and eight nonpublic.¹ Sixteen were recognized as “High Performing” and eight for “Achievement Gap Closing,” according to the announcement.¹

Illinois created the award after the U.S. Department of Education canceled its federal Blue Ribbon Schools program, and this is its second year, the release said.¹ The honorees will be invited to a recognition event at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield this spring.¹

The public schools

Seven public schools were honored for closing achievement gaps: Brookview Elementary School in Rockford Public Schools; Dawes Elementary School in Evanston-Skokie School District 65; Hadley Middle School in Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C; John Mills Elementary School in Elmwood Park CUSD 401; Midwest Central Primary School in Midwest Central CUSD 191; Richland County Elementary School in Richland County CUSD 1; and Winnebago Elementary School in Marquardt School District 15.¹

Nine public schools were recognized as high performing: Builta Elementary School in Indian Prairie School District 204; Cumberland Elementary School in Community Consolidated School District 62; Glenbrook South High School in Glenbrook High School District 225; Lincoln Elementary School in River Forest School District 90; Mahomet-Seymour High School in Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3; May Whitney Elementary School in Lake Zurich CUSD 95; McKenzie Elementary School in Wilmette Public Schools District 39; Seventh Avenue School in La Grange School District 105; and Vernon Hills High School in Community High School District 128.¹

At John Mills Elementary, 40% of students are English learners and 58% are from low-income families, according to the release.¹

The nonpublic schools

Divine Providence Catholic School in Westchester was honored for closing achievement gaps.¹ Seven nonpublic schools were recognized as high performing: Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School, Saint Andrew School, Saint Clement School, St. Benedict Preparatory School and St. Mary of the Angels School, all in Chicago, and St. Athanasius School in Evanston.¹

What officials said

Pritzker called the honors “a testament to the passion and dedication of our teachers,” according to the release.¹ “These schools have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders.¹

The release also said that Pritzker has increased evidence-based school funding by more than $2.5 billion since taking office.¹