Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education have named 24 schools as 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools, recognizing them for high academic achievement or for significant progress in closing achievement gaps.

The honorees were announced 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, according to the governor's office.

The 2026 class includes 16 public schools and eight nonpublic schools from rural, suburban and urban communities across the state. State officials said the program carries forward a 40-year tradition of honoring schools and was established last year after the Trump administration canceled the U.S. Department of Education's national Blue Ribbon program.

"I want to congratulate our 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools, who demonstrate what is possible when students, educators, families, and communities come together to support our children in reaching their full potential," Pritzker said in a statement.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders said the recognized schools "have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success, whether through exceptional academic performance or meaningful progress in closing achievement gaps."

Host school John Mills Elementary, in Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401, was honored as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School. The state said it serves a student population that includes 40% English learners and 58% students from low-income households.

Public schools honored

  • Brookview Elementary School, Rockford Public Schools (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • Builta Elementary School, Indian Prairie School District 204 (High Performing)
  • Cumberland Elementary School, Community Consolidated School District 62 (High Performing)
  • Dawes Elementary School, Evanston-Skokie School District 65 (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • Glenbrook South High School, Glenbrook High School District 225 (High Performing)
  • Hadley Middle School, Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • John Mills Elementary School, Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • Lincoln Elementary School, River Forest School District 90 (High Performing)
  • Mahomet-Seymour High School, Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3 (High Performing)
  • May Whitney Elementary School, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 (High Performing)
  • McKenzie Elementary School, Wilmette Public Schools District 39 (High Performing)
  • Midwest Central Primary School, Midwest Central CUSD 191 (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • Richland County Elementary School, Richland County Community Unit School District 1 (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • Seventh Avenue School, La Grange School District 105 (High Performing)
  • Vernon Hills High School, Community High School District 128 (High Performing)
  • Winnebago Elementary School, Marquardt School District 15 (Achievement Gap Closing)

Nonpublic schools honored

  • Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, Chicago (High Performing)
  • Divine Providence Catholic School, Westchester (Achievement Gap Closing)
  • Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School, Chicago (High Performing)
  • Saint Andrew School, Chicago (High Performing)
  • Saint Clement School, Chicago (High Performing)
  • St. Athanasius School, Evanston (High Performing)
  • St. Benedict Preparatory School, Chicago (High Performing)
  • St. Mary of the Angels School, Chicago (High Performing)

The state said all honorees will be invited to a special recognition event at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield this spring. Officials noted that Pritzker has increased evidence-based funding for schools by more than $2.5 billion since taking office.

Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and state Rep. Norma Hernandez, D-Melrose Park, both praised John Mills Elementary in statements.

Source: the original release