Casper’s Sagewood Elementary Named 2023 Blue Ribbon School

The U.S. Department of Education today recognized 353 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023, including two schools in Wyoming. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments.

The Wyoming schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

Casper – Sagewood Elementary School, Natrona County School District #1.
Powell – Southside Elementary School, Park County School District # 1.

“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to Raise the Bar in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. As the Biden-Harris Administration partners with states and schools to accelerate academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators, serving students, and engaging families.” 

National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective and innovative 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. Nominated schools also complete an extensive narrative application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement. 

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.