LINCOLN — The Nebraska Department of Education is honoring seven “Blue Ribbon Schools” in 2025 after federal education officials ended the national honor roll for high-performing schools.

The U.S. Department of Education had historically honored some of the nation’s schools that performed well on state assessments or nationally normed tests through the National Blue Ribbon Schools program. Terrell H. Bell, President Ronald Reagan’s first education secretary, created the program in 1982.

State officials said the seven Nebraska honorees had already applied and would have met Blue Ribbon standards based on last year’s benchmarks. Four Nebraska schools earned the praise in 2024, and four more earned the title in 2023. About 350 schools were nationally recognized each of those years.

The 2025 Nebraska honorees are:

McDonald Elementary School in North Platte Public Schools (North Platte).
Hillrise Elementary School in Elkhorn Public Schools (Elkhorn).
Ezra Millard Elementary School in Millard Public Schools (Omaha).
Park Elementary School in Kearney Public Schools (Kearney).
St. Isidore Elementary School in the Omaha Archdiocese (Omaha).
Mount Michael Benedictine School in the Omaha Archdiocese (Omaha).
Mary Our Queen Catholic School in the Omaha Archdiocese (Omaha).

“These schools are amazing examples of hard work, focus and the desire for excellence,” Nebraska Education Commissioner Brian Maher said in a statement. “They represent communities from across our state and provide a powerful model for effective and innovative practices for educators throughout Nebraska.”

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