Woodbridge High School in Irvine has been acknowledged as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School.
With 1,931 students, Woodbridge High was recognized in the category of Exemplary High Performing Schools.
“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,” Woodbridge High School principal Chris Krebs said. “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.”
Woodbridge High also received the National Blue Ribbon honor in 1986. And overall, this is the 20th Blue Ribbon School in the Irvine Unified School District since the program began in 1983, according to the school.
“This partnership between our school and community is special and deserving of national recognition,” Krebs said.
Bestowed by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Blue Ribbon awards recognize schools for their overall academic performance or efforts in closing performance gaps.
Schools are designated either by the Exemplary High Performing or the Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing category, based on student scores and graduation rates.
“Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. “These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”
Twenty-nine schools across California received the federal recognition, including Newcomb Academy in Long Beach and Kester Avenue Elementary School and Colfax Charter Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In all, 297 received the honor across the country.
“As we continue to recover from the pandemic, this award validates the hard work of educators across the state on behalf of students,” said Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction. “Their commitment to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all their students has helped transform the lives of students during extraordinary circumstances.”
Six Woodbridge High students were also recently named National Merit semifinalists.
A full list of the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
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