Thomas Jefferson School

U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award
2000-01

Thomas Jefferson School has earned the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon designation of excellence for 2000-01.

With the selection of Thomas Jefferson and another Community Consolidated School District 15 school, Pleasant Hill in Palatine, one-third of the district’s schools have now earned Blue Ribbon designations.

What is a Blue Ribbon school?

Since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools program has been spotlighting schools 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 the 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 Thomas Jefferson nominated?

The nomination process demands a stringent self-assessment. Preparing the Blue Ribbon nomination 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 Thomas Jefferson. 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 Thomas Jefferson earn the award?

Among the reasons cited were the school’s strong student focus and support, including student access to a wide variety of extracurricular activities; the positive school organization and culture; the way in which the administration and staff have worked to make a large, 700-student school feel like a much smaller school; how the school has welcomed and celebrated diversity; and extensive parental involvement.

What did the site reviewer say about Thomas Jefferson?

  • The reviewer spent a full day talking with teachers, students, parents, and members of the office and support staff teams. The observations documented in the report to the Secretary of Education were very complimentary of Thomas Jefferson’s students, parents, staff, and administration. Among the comments were these:
  • “One Terrific Journey” is the motto of Thomas Jefferson School and everyone in the school community works together to make that motto a reality. The TJ “journey” starts with respect between student and student, and student and adult that is readily apparent to both stakeholders and visitors.
  • Everyone is always busy and there is an underlying current of electricity that indicates that both children and adults have someplace to go and something to do that they consider important, rewarding, and fun.
  • Children are excited about the programs—academic and extracurricular—at TJ. The students are anxious to learn, motivated, and bring a rich diversity of backgrounds to the school.
  • Parents are partners in making many of the programs happen. The parents are supportive, hardworking, and child-centered.
  • Thomas Jefferson is a school with a dynamic principal who has put together a team of educators anxious to move the school into the 21st century.

Thomas Jefferson 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.