Burr Ridge School's Award Not Federally Noted

BURR RIDGE, IL – Pleasantdale Middle School did not get federal recognition for a top award, as originally expected.

But Illinois stepped in and acknowledged the 28 schools that received the Blue Ribbon School award this year.

Besides Pleasantdale, nearby public schools that received the honor were Lyons Township High School and two in Hinsdale District 181, Clarendon Hills Middle School and Walker Elementary.

Area private school recipients were St. John of the Cross Parish School in Western Springs and Timothy Christian's elementary school in Elmhurst.

For four decades, the U.S. Department of Education has designated and honored Blue Ribbon schools.

In August, schools were notified of receiving the federal award. But later the same month, the Department of Education ended the program. So recipients will not be honored in Washington this time around.

Earlier this month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a ceremony acknowledging the recipients.

To earn the Blue Ribbon distinction, schools must rank in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state, with every student subgroup performing in the top 40 percent on state assessments.

Pleasantdale Elementary School earned the honor in 1997 and 2023. That makes Pleasantdale District 107 one of the few nationally to have both its elementary and middle schools honored, according to a district news release.

The district created a video highlighting the achievement.