Overview
On September 9, 2025, Governor Ned Lamont announced that due to the recent termination of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program – which for more than four decades has honored and celebrated the top performing schools across the United States – the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) under the leadership of Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker is establishing the Connecticut Blue Ribbon Schools Program to continue the tradition of recognizing and highlighting schools that are excelling in academic success.
The Connecticut State Department of Education uses results from its Next Generation Accountability System to select schools eligible to be nominated for the National Blue Ribbon award. All nominated schools are also Connecticut Schools of Distinction. “Exemplary High Performing Schools” are identified from the top 10 percent of schools based on the Accountability Index. “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools” are schools in the top 10 percent of schools based on the academic growth of students with high needs.
Current Recipients
The following six public schools have been selected as the 2026 recipients of this honor.- Great Oak Elementary School in Oxford
- Nathan Hale School in Meriden
- New Lebanon School in Greenwich
- Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield
- Webster Hill School in West Hartford
- Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies Elementary Magnet School in Danbury