Woodbridge High School has been named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, making it one of 297 schools from across the nation to have earned what is widely considered the nation’s highest level of recognition for public and private schools. Twenty-nine schools in California received this designation with Woodbridge being the only school in Orange County to receive the award.
This is the second Blue Ribbon designation for Woodbridge, which was also recognized in 1986. Overall, this is IUSD’s 20th Blue Ribbon School dating back to the start of the federal program in 1983. (Below is the full list.)
Woodbridge is being recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School, with criteria for eligibility being defined by state testing scores that are the top 15 percent for whole school, top 40 percent for each subgroup within the school, and top 15 percent for both graduation rate and college and career readiness index.
“The Woodbridge community has always been worthy of an honor of this size, but what makes this one so special is it represents excellence and growth through the most complicated time for K-12 education we’ve seen in our country’s history,” said Woodbridge High School Principal Chris Krebs. “This recognition belongs to our talented WHS staff for their heroic efforts these last three years, to our students who have demonstrated resiliency and grit, and to the families we serve, who trusted and supported us during this time. This partnership between our school and community is special and deserving of national recognition.”
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today recognized the 297 the National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022 today. He noted that recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
“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,” said Cardona. “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.”
With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement.
National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.
For more information, visit nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov.
Congratulations Woodbridge High Warriors for this outstanding achievement!
IUSD National Blue Ribbon Schools
Elementary Schools
Brywood Elementary 1991
Canyon View Elementary 2003
Deerfield Elementary 2007
Meadow Park Elementary 1998
Northwood Elementary 2008
Stonegate Elementary 1998 (Westwood), 2013 and 2019
K-8 Schools
Vista Verde K-8 School 1996, 2020
Middle Schools
Lakeside Middle School 1990, 2012
Rancho San Joaquin Middle School 1997
Venado Middle School 1982 and 1995
High Schools
Irvine High School 1988
Northwood High School 2006
University High School 1986
Woodbridge High School 1986, 2022