Rhode Island Department of Education Names 2026 Blue Ribbon Schools

Rhode Island Department of Education Names 2026 Blue Ribbon Schools

Published on Thursday, June 11, 2026

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) today announced that three schools have been named 2026 Rhode Island Blue Ribbon Schools, one of the highest honors a school can receive in the state.

The 2026 honorees are:

• Classical High School (Providence) - Exemplary High Performance
• Community School (Cumberland) - Exemplary High Performance
• Kingston Hill Academy - Exemplary High Performance and Achievement Gap Closing

Following the abrupt discontinuation of the federal National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, last year, Rhode Island established its own state-level Blue Ribbon Schools recognition program, maintaining the same rigorous, federally-aligned performance data-driven criteria used for prior national recognition.

"Rhode Island is home to incredible educators and school communities that deliver real results for students every day," said Governor Dan McKee. "These Blue Ribbon Schools demonstrate what's possible when we set high expectations and provide the support our students and educators need to meet them. Congratulations to these outstanding school communities for this well-deserved recognition."

"Even as the federal program came to an end, Rhode Island made an intentional choice to continue recognizing and learning from our highest-performing schools," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "These schools represent excellence in action, from strong academic outcomes to meaningful progress in closing achievement gaps, and serve as models for schools across our state. Congratulations!"

"Classical High School has long been a pillar of academic excellence in Providence, and we're thrilled it has been recognized once again as a top school community in the Ocean State," said Providence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. "This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and high expectations upheld by our students, educators, and school leaders every single day. Go Purple!"

Classical High School's 2026 Blue Ribbon Award represents the third such distinction earned by a Providence Public School during the state intervention, underscoring meaningful academic progress across the district. Classical previously received this prestigious recognition in 2017. In the past two years, Bailey Elementary School and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School have also been honored with Blue Ribbon designations.

"This honor for Community School is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our educators, staff, students, and families," said Cumberland Superintendent Phil Thornton. "Community School represents the very best of what public education can achieve when we work together to support every student's success. We're deeply proud to have earned a second Blue Ribbon award."

"Kingston Hill Academy's recognition in both performance and closing achievement gaps speaks volumes about the intentional and equity-driven work happening in this school community," said Kingston Hill Academy Superintendent Marcella Clark. "We are proud of our students and educators for their commitment to excellence and ensuring every learner has the opportunity to succeed."