11 N.J. schools make National Blue Ribbon list

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New Jersey is home to 11 accolade-receiving institutions in a list of quality schools, the U.S. Department of Education reported Tuesday.The annual National Blue Ribbon list recognized 337 of the country’s schools in total. Three of those distinguished in the Garden State were in Morris County, while Mercer had two selected.

It’s worth noting that, last year, 15 New Jersey schools were named in the list, among 286.

Honorees are nominated by education officials in each state, dividing potential winners into two categories: exemplary high performing or exemplary achievement gap closing.

High performing entails some praiseworthy high school graduation rates and the highest achieving students (top 15 percent) in certain state-assessed subjects, according to the National Blue Ribbon School Program.

And the other recognition goes to schools with the greatest advances (top 15 percent) in closing achievement gaps in those subjects over the past five years, also as measured by state assessments.

Here are the New Jersey schools that fit the bill:

• Assumption School, Morristown
• Biotechnology High School, Freehold Township
• Mendham Township Middle School
• Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences, Woodbridge
• Milton Avenue School, Chatham
• Mount Prospect Elementary School, Basking Ridge
• Pace Charter School of Hamilton (Mercer)
• Performing Arts Academy, Lakehurst
• St. Gregory The Great Academy, Hamilton Square
• William F. Halloran School No. 22, Elizabeth
• Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, Weehawken

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