Westerly named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School

Westerly Elementary School students during class.

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Westerly Elementary School, a grades three and four building in the Bay Village City School District, has again been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for 2021. This is the second time in five years the school has received this national honor.

Westerly Elementary School is one of only 325 schools in the United States to receive the honor this year, as announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, and one of only 11 Ohio elementary schools.

Westerly Elementary School is a multiple National Blue Ribbon awardee, 2015 and 2021. It is unusual for schools to receive the honor more than once, and Westerly is receiving the distinction for the second time in the least amount of years possible – there must be five years in between each Blue Ribbon’s awarding.

Westerly Elementary School is honored as an Exemplary High Performing School for being among Ohio’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance is also at the highest level.

"The entire Bay Village Schools learning community can be proud that Westerly Elementary School has been honored not once, but twice with this distinction,” said Interim Superintendent Char Shryock. "I’m especially excited for our team since this year’s recognition acknowledges their innovative and collaborative approach to providing a high-quality, academic experience for students through a pandemic. Congratulations to Westerly Principal Josie Sanfilippo and the entire Westerly faculty and staff for continuing the tradition of excellence, which is reflected in our students every day.”

"What an honor it is to again be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School," said Josie Sanfilippo. "This award acknowledges and validates the hard work by our amazing students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the continuous support of our families and community members in our efforts to strive for and attain exemplary achievement. Congratulations to our entire Westerly family!"

It is worth noting that Bay High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2010.

The Department of Education will honor this year's National Blue Ribbon Schools at a recognition ceremony on Nov. 4 and 5 in National Harbor, Maryland.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, in its 39th year, honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The Blue Ribbon award’s plaque affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The Blue Ribbon award flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.