Sept. 23, 2024 – Robert B. Green Elementary at Riverside Park in the San Antonio ISD was announced today as an exemplary high performing school by the U.S. Department of Education. Green Elementary is the only school from the San Antonio and Bexar County area to receive a National Blue Ribbon recognition this year. 

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today recognized 356 schools as the 2024 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools, including 31 schools in Texas. 

“We’re proud and very excited for the entire Green community,” Trustee Art Valdez said. “This level of achievement has been earned through the hard work and dedication of everyone. It’s a team award, and that’s the greatest part about it. I feel that this is something the community needs and deserves right now.”

The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools reflect the full diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While awardees represent a wide array of schools, they share common traits. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. 

“We are incredibly honored that the collaborative efforts of our students, families, educators, and staff at Green Elementary have been recognized by the National Blue Ribbon School program," said Superintendent Jaime Aquino. "This prestigious award is a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence and the quality education our students receive, year after year. It reflects the dedication, hard work, and collective spirit of our entire community. We are deeply invested in our students' success, and this achievement belongs to everyone who has played a part in their journey towards excellence.”

National Blue Ribbon schools showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.

“This award signifies a major achievement for our community and the dedicated faculty and staff at Green Elementary, highlighting our commitment to exceptional education,” Green Principal Jennifer Soto said. “It reaffirms our district’s efforts and encourages us to stay focused on our goals.”

Green offers pre-kindergarten through 5th grade classes, both monolingual and dual language. Its campus is equipped with one-to-one technology where each student has their own electronic device for use both in their classroom and at home. Green’s classrooms feature smart boards and projectors to enhance and engage students in a dynamic learning environment.

A total of four SAISD schools have earned the National Blue Ribbon distinction six times since 2000. In addition to Green Elementary at Riverside, Young Women’s Leadership Academy was honored in 2021 and 2015, Travis Early College High School was honored in 2017, and Fox Tech High School was recognized in 2000 and 2012.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education honors the National Blue Ribbon Schools at the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. At the ceremony, each school receives a plaque and flag to signify its exemplary status. These schools serve as examples for other schools throughout the nation and details of their achievements are shared on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program was initiated by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982 to recognize public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that have high student achievement and/or highlights where exemplary progress has been made in closing achievement gaps among student populations. Since the program’s founding, more than 9,000 schools across the nation have received this prestigious designation. 

In Texas, public schools are considered for nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the most recent STAAR assessments. Each nominated school has an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or more.

*NOTE TO EDITORS: B-roll with Green Elementary students, teachers, and staff; SAISD Superintendent Dr. Jaime Aquino; SAISD Board Secretary Arthur Valdez; and photos for your consideration are located at this link:
Green Elementary Blue Ribbon 2024

See also the U.S. Department of Education news release