Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) on Tuesday announced 24 schools recognized as 2026 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools during a recognition ceremony at John Mills Elementary School in Elmwood Park. Now in its second year, the program celebrates schools that demonstrate educational excellence through high academic achievement or significant progress in closing achievement gaps. The 2026 class of Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools includes 16 public schools and eight nonpublic schools representing communities throughout Illinois. Together, these schools reflect the breadth of Illinois’ educational landscape, including rural and suburban districts as well as urban communities serving students across the state. A few of the schools include:
• Cumberland Elementary School, Community Consolidated School District 62 (High Performing)
• John Mills Elementary School, Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 (Achievement Gap Closing)
• Dawes Elementary School, Evanston-Skokie School District 65 (Achievement Gap Closing)
• Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School, Chicago (High Performing)
• St. Benedict Preparatory School, Chicago (High Performing)
For the full list of schools, visit https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com
