Hunting Ridge School

U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award
1998-99

Hunting Ridge School earned the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon designation of excellence in school year 1998-99, one of just three schools in the Chicagoland area and only 266 nationwide to achieve the prestigious honor that year.

What is a Blue Ribbon school?

Since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon program has been spotlighting schools from around the country that excel in school leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, and parental involvement. The Blue Ribbon designation has become the most prestigious education award in the country—a trademark of excellence and a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policymakers.

What sets Blue Ribbon schools apart?

Among the characteristics that help a school earn Blue Ribbon designation are:

• A clear vision and shared sense of mission
• A challenging, up-to-date curriculum
• Policies and practices which ensure a safe campus conducive to learning
• Family involvement
• A commitment to help all students achieve high standards.

How was Hunting Ridge nominated?

The nomination process demands a stringent self-assessment. Preparing the Blue Ribbon nomination application was a massive effort that took several months of data collection and organization. Every aspect of the school’s operation—from academic performance and curriculum to parent involvement and school spirit—was extensively documented, resulting in multiple binders packed with details about Hunting Ridge. The written materials were carefully evaluated by a review team in Washington, D.C., then a site reviewer was assigned to visit the school. The site reviewer made a report and recommendation to the Secretary of Education, who made the final determination.

Why did Hunting Ridge earn the award?

Among reasons cited were the school’s engagement of students, parents, and community in collective inquiry, reflection, and decision-making. The reviewers noted the strength of the Hunting Ridge PTA, the staff’s clear focus on school improvement, the exemplary teaching methodology evident in the classrooms, and the extensive level of parental involvement throughout the school. In addition, Hunting Ridge was recognized for the development of several outstanding programs that support student learning, including the “Twelve Intelligent Behaviors,” Differentiated Instruction, the “Think Tank” curriculum, and the Rebecca Sitton spelling program.

What did the site visitor say about Hunting Ridge?

• It is not just the cleanliness or the attractiveness [of Hunting Ridge School] that strikes the visitor, but the warmth and the outreach from everyone who works there. I observed the friendliness and helpfulness of the office staff to children and adults alike. Teachers were enthusiastic and friendly. It was difficult to distinguish teachers, aides, or parent volunteers. Everyone was an equal part of the learning community. I also witnessed the same behavior with the children. They were kind, considerate, and supportive of one another.
• In conversations with teachers, their excitement for teaching is electrifying. They want to learn more! They look at the research, manage their staff development funds through leadership team planning, and meet their instructional challenges and goals. All instructional strategies are grounded in research. Observations of classrooms included integration of the Twelve Intelligent Behaviors, Sitton spelling philosophy, Tomlinsons’ differentiated curriculum, and the school’s Think Tank curriculum (convergent/divergent thinking), which enhanced the students’ ability to learn, to be challenged, and to meet success on all ability levels. Observations indicate that the application of the standards and curriculum are challenging to the developmental needs of all students. Instruction was rarely ordinary, and generally extraordinary.
• Hunting Ridge Elementary School is a school of the millennium. Teaching strategies are innovative, dynamic, and inspiring. It is an educator’s delight to observe what we know about current research put into practice in every classroom. High expectations exist for everyone.

Hunting Ridge School is one of seven District 15 schools to have received the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon designation over the past several years.