Suburban schools named 2026 Governor’s Blue Ribbon winners

Suburban schools were among the 16 public and eight private institutions Illinois is honoring for exemplary academic achievement through a state initiative that models the now-defunct federal Blue Ribbon program canceled by the Trump administration.

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education on Tuesday recognized the 24 schools as 2026 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools during a ceremony at John Mills Elementary School in Elmwood Park.

Now in its second year, the program celebrates schools that demonstrate educational excellence through high academic achievement or significant progress in closing achievement gaps.

Among the public schools that made the list:

• Builta Elementary School in Bolingbrook

• Cumberland Elementary School in Des Plaines

• Glenbrook South High School in Glenview

• May Whitney Elementary School in Lake Zurich

• Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills

Indian Prairie School District 204 Superintendent John Price commended the hard work and dedication of Wayne Builta staff and students.

“This achievement is not the result of one person or one year. Rather, it is a culmination of years of hard work from the staff, and also celebrates the hard work of the students and their families,” he said in a news release.

Cumberland Elementary Principal Marc Infante said the honor reflects the school’s dedication to learning.

“Thank you to our outstanding staff for inspiring students and creating an environment where every child can thrive; to our students for their curiosity, hard work, and perseverance; to the (Des Plaines) District 62 Board of Education for its support and leadership; and to our community for being a present and active part of our school,” he said in a statement.

Eight Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools in Chicago, Evanston and Westchester also were among the high-performing private schools honored with the Blue Ribbon designation.

“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 news release.

The state established its Blue Ribbon program last year shortly after the Trump administration abruptly canceled the U.S. Department of Education’s annual recognition of academic excellence in public and private schools since 1982.

Twenty-eight schools from across Illinois — including several suburban public and private schools — received the 2025 designation. Among them were: William Fremd High School in Palatine; Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle; Liberty Intermediate School in Libertyville; and Sarah Adams Elementary School in Lake Zurich. Eleven Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools and two Christian schools were among the Illinois private schools recognized with Blue Ribbons last year.

School performance, graduation rates, and proficiency in key subjects continue to improve statewide, according to the 2025 Illinois School Report Card.

Blue Ribbon honorees will be invited to a special recognition event at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield this spring.

mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com