Olentangy High School (OHS) is now a two-time recipient of the National Blue Ribbon honor, which is awarded annually by the United States Department of Education to schools based on overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
OHS also received the honor in 1999 and is now the first school in the Olentangy Local School District (OLSD) to receive the honor multiple times. Other OLSD schools to receive the honor include Tyler Run Elementary, Freedom Trail Elementary, Scioto Ridge Elementary and Liberty High School.
“This honor is a result of our staff creating classrooms and learning environments that allow our students to flourish, our parents sending us great kids and supporting the work we do, and our students showing up each day with a positive attitude, valuing themselves and others, balancing their work and schedules, being resilient, and showing empathy for one another,” Olentangy High School Principal Robert Griffiths said following an all-school assembly on Friday, where he announced the award to his staff and students.
A total of 297 schools across the United States were recognized this year, and OHS is one of just 13 schools in Ohio to receive the honor.
The United States Department of Education said of the program, which is in its 39th year, “National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing the school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.”
In a press release announcing the 2022 recipients, United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said, “I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams.
“As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”
Awards ceremonies will take place in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 3 and 4.
Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on Twitter @DillonDavis56.
