Mid-Del elementary named Blue Ribbon School

Schwartz Elementary School wins national honor for third time

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

A Mid-Del elementary school was named one of the best in the country.

Schwartz Elementary School was selected as 2024 National Blue Ribbon School last week by the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 2024 awardees on Sept. 23. A total of 356 schools were awarded for outstanding teaching practices and community collaboration.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”

Students and staff celebrated the achievement during a school assembly on Sept. 23.

Schwartz is one of four schools in Oklahoma to be named a Blue Ribbon School in 2024. Other winners include Bethany High School, Maple Public School in Canadian County, and Morrison Elementary School in Noble County.

It is the third time that Schwartz has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School, having received the honor in 2008 and 2015. The school has 312 students and is in southeast Oklahoma City.

Superintendent Rick Cobb said Schwartz is much more than a high achieving school. School staff push the boundaries of learning every day.

“It’s not just opening books and learning new lessons and taking tests over it,” he said. “It’s innovation, it’s problem solving, it’s collaboration and project-based learning. It’s all those things brought together to make well-rounded students and the culture that we have here at Schwartz.”

Principal Rondall Jones was also the principal in 2015 when the school was recognized. Some staff members have been at the school during all three Blue Ribbon Award wins.

“It just makes my heart swell because our teachers work hard and they’re very innovative and go above and beyond,” Jones said. “They work hard for the kids.”

Jones said they were judged on several factors including academic standards, parental and community involvement, and how they handle subject areas. It included looking at the school’s success over the past five years.

“We have to show what we did differently and what innovations we put in place to continue this achievement,” Jones said.

According to a press release, national Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.

Each nominated school submits a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education.

Mid-Del’s Cleveland Bailey Elementary School was a Blue Ribbon School in 2011.