Jefferson City News

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has named eight Missouri schools as Gold Star Schools for 2024. This recognition aligns with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The program honors schools that have achieved outstanding academic results or those that perform well while serving a significant number of disadvantaged students.

The schools recognized in Missouri for 2024 are Bristol Elementary School in Webster Groves School District, Meramec Elementary School in Clayton School District, Metro Academic and Classical High School in St. Louis Public School District, Oakwood Elementary School in Hannibal 60 School District, Ralph M. Captain Elementary School in Clayton School District, Richland Elementary School in Richland R-I School District, Voy Spears, Jr. Elementary School in Blue Springs R-IV School District, and William Yates Elementary School also in Blue Springs R-IV School District.

Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven expressed her congratulations: “Congratulations to the students, teachers, and staff members of each of these schools for earning this recognition,” she said. “These schools demonstrate that academic excellence is possible while striving to meet the needs of every student in their school — and we’re so proud of their hard work.”

The Missouri Gold Star Schools program began in 1991 and follows the same nomination criteria as the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. The announcement for the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools will be made this fall.