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Mariemont Junior High School named Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Department of Education
National Blue Ribbon School Award 2021
Mariemont Junior High School was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2021.
 
Blue Ribbon status is one of the most prestigious awards given by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize the best in education throughout the country. Mariemont Junior High School will receive the status of “Exemplary High Performing School.”
 
“This is an incredible achievement for Mariemont Junior High School, for the school district and for our community” said Superintendent Steven Estepp. “The staff at MJHS works tirelessly every day to work hard, create experience and embrace growth for their students and their hard work and dedication has paid off with this recognition. This award is a testament to the direction the district is heading under the Destination 2026 strategic plan.”
 
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 325 schools as National Blue Ribbon schools for 2021. 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. 
 
The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.
 
“I am humbled by the recognition of Mariemont Junior High School as a National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School” said principal Rob Polca. “The partnership of our students, faculty, families and an extremely supportive community has created a positive learning environment where impacting students is the driving force of everything that we do. I am so proud of our learning community, and this recognition is even more meaningful as we’ve navigated and supported each other through the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for the passion and enthusiasm that our staff brings to each school day and could not be more appreciative of the collective dedication that has made National Blue Ribbon recognition possible. This is an award we will treasure for years to come, as we continue to build meaningful learning environments and relationships, embracing growth together.”
 
With this honor, Mariemont Junior High School joins the other three Mariemont City Schools buildings as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Mariemont High School, which is one of only 14 public schools in the entire country (and the only public school in the state of Ohio) to be named a National Blue Ribbon school at least four times, earned the recognition in 1984, 1988, 2001 and 2005. Additionally, Terrace Park Elementary School earned its award in 2004 and Mariemont Elementary School in 2018.
 
With this achievement, the Mariemont City School District is now only the fourth public school district in the state of Ohio to have each of its schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
 
All 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a national awards ceremony on Nov. 4-5.
 
For more information on the National Blue Ribbon Schools program and a full list of 2021 recipients, click here.