The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program (NBRS) annually honors America’s most successful public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools. NBRS recognizes both schools whose students achieve at very high levels and schools making significant progress in closing academic achievement gaps among different groups of students.

Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) reviews the data for all public schools in the state and nominates schools that meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education (USED). Non-public schools are nominated by the Council of American Private Education (CAPE). There is no application process to be considered for nomination, as all public schools in the state are considered each year.

New Jersey can nominate up to nine public schools each year across two categories: “Exemplary High Performing Schools” and “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools”. NJDOE may choose each year to nominate schools in one or both categories. At least one-third of the schools nominated must be schools with a high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Due to these restrictions, there may be schools that meet the eligibility requirements that cannot be nominated.

• Serves one or more of grades K–12
• Open for five full years and assessed grades have been part of the school for at least three years prior to September 2023.
• Has not received the National Blue Ribbon Schools award in the past five years (2019-2023)
• Has at least 100 students enrolled and assessment data for at least 10 students per grade
• Met most recent annual targets for statewide assessment performance and graduation rate
• School assessment participation rates are at least 95%
• No history of testing irregularities
• Not identified as “persistently dangerous” within the last two years
• Has not refused Office of Civil Rights (OCR) access to information necessary and was not issued an OCR violation
• No pending suit alleging violation of one or more of the civil rights statutes of the Constitution’s equal protection clause
• No findings of violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• School is in the top 15% of the state based on a composite score that combines performance on the 2022–2023 statewide assessment with other measures
• Each student group is in the top 40% of the state based on a composite score that combines performance on the 2022–2023 statewide assessment with other measures.
• High schools are in the top 15% of the state based on 2022 graduation rate and a measure of College and Career readiness (as part of a composite score).

• One or more student group is in the top 15% of the state based on increase in performance on the 2022–2023 statewide assessment compared to two to four years before
• Each student group is in the top 40% of the state based on a composite score that combines performance on the 2022–2023 statewide assessment with other measures.
• Each student group is in the top 40% of the state based on 2022 graduation rate and a measure of College and Career Readiness (as part of a composite score).
• Schoolwide improvement on the statewide assessment must equal or exceed statewide improvement.