The Douglas County School System is proud to announce that Winston Elementary School has been recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. This prestigious Blue Ribbon program honors schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for their outstanding academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps. Winston Elementary School is one of 356 school winners nationwide and 10 in Georgia.
Schools chosen as National Blue Ribbon Schools serve students from all backgrounds. The 
program selected Winston Elementary for being a model for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their school and community, as well as for clearly articulating a vision of instructional excellence. In addition, the school successfully showcased effective teaching methods and data-driven instruction with a focus on ensuring every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators has been noted as a key component of Winston’s success.
“This recognition is a proud moment for Winston Elementary and a celebration for our entire Douglas County community,” said Superintendent Trent North. He added, “It is an honor that reflects the dedication of our students, the commitment of our teachers and staff, and the support of our parents and community. Our community is incredibly proud of this achievement, and we will continue working with students in Winston and at schools across our school system to achieve the highest standards of academic excellence.”
Principal Heather George is equally excited to celebrate this achievemen
t. She stated, “Winston Elementary has a long-standing reputation of being dedicated to preparing students for success in and out of the classroom. Our school equips them with the skills, confidence, and resilience to excel in an ever-evolving world.”
Tracy Rookard, Chair of the Douglas County Board of Education, also expressed the board’s enthusiasm for this recognition: “We are immensely proud of Winston Elementary School for achieving National Blue Ribbon School status. This recognition celebrates their outstanding academic achievements and highlights the excellent learning environment cultivated in schools throughout our school system.”
Each year, up to 420 schools from across the country may be nominated for an award. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. A special awards ceremony will be held in November in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the awardees.
For more information on the National Blue Ribbon Schools program, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.