Fairmont Elementary has been named a National Blue Ribbon Reward School, the Department of Education announced on Tuesday. Fairmont Elementary is one of 353 schools in the country and one of six in Tennessee to make up the 40th cohort. This is the second time in 12 years that Fairmont has earned this national recognition.
The National Blue Ribbon honor is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments. Fairmont was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
“Getting this great honor twice exemplifies the strengths of Fairmont Elementary, Johnson City Schools, our families and our community as we all focus together to assure student success,” said former Fairmont Principal Carol McGill, who retired after the 2022 school year. “Another unique aspect of this award for Fairmont is that only two Title I schools can be nominated each year from the state. Therefore, to receive it twice is truly an amazing accomplishment for the Fairmont and system.”
First-year Fairmont principal Dr. JoDee Dotson agreed with her predecessor.
“I am so very proud of our faculty, staff, and students for achieving this prestigious honor for the second time in 12 years,” Dotson said. “They work so hard every day and are dedicated and committed to growing and learning. Additionally, our families, PTA, and community partners are such a tremendous support to the work we do. We are looking forward to continuing the legacy of high expectations and exceptional academic achievement at Fairmont.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) Program is one of the U.S. Department of Education’s longest-running recognition programs. NBRS recognizes outstanding public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall high academic achievement or success in closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students. Since its inception in 1982, the goals of the program are to shine a spotlight on the best schools in the United States and to share best practices of outstanding schools across the country.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Education works with state departments of education to identify and nominate outstanding schools for this coveted award based on student academic achievement measures and progress toward closing achievement gaps. Through a rigorous review process, the U.S. Department of Education awards several hundred outstanding schools annually, to celebrate their achievement. This prestigious award serves not only as a symbol of exemplary American schools, but also as inspiration for schools across the nation. It affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students thrive.
