Hope Elementary School in Santa Barbara’s Hope School District is one of 33 schools in California and 353 nationally to be recognized as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

The honor is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.

Hope Elementary School students, staff and community have worked diligently to continually improve and excel, said Hope District Superintendent Anne Hubbard.

The award also highlights the exemplary focus on equity and academic achievement started by former principal Liz Barnitz and continued by current principal Anna Scharfeld, Hubbard said.

“This prestigious national recognition is a wonderful way to celebrate the many years of hard work of our students, their families, teachers, administrators, and support staff,” Hubbard said. “I am incredibly proud of the Hope Elementary School community.”

“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to raise the bar in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

“The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially and  emotionally,” Cardona said.

“As the Biden-Harris administration partners with states and schools to accelerate  academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous  pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators,  serving students, and engaging families,” he said.