Mannsdale Upper Elementary School is a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School. This recognition, announced September 23 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, is among the highest national honors given to schools across the United States.
“I am so excited that Mannsdale Upper has been selected as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School awardee,” said Principal Dr. Nicole Cockrell, “The teachers, students, and staff have worked diligently since the school's opening to build citizens of excellence. This distinction confirms that building relationships and teaching with heart matter.”
Only 356 schools in the entire nation are recognized as 2024 Blue Ribbon Schools, placing Mannsdale Upper Elementary among the top schools not only in Mississippi, but also in the United States. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes both public and private elementary,middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. In a statement released Monday, the U.S. Department of Education notes that, “National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.”
“Mannsdale Upper Elementary is an outstanding representation of our motto, ‘Mark of Excellence’,” says Madison County Schools Superintendent Ted Poore, “We are thrilled to see the hard work and dedication of our faculty, administrators, students, families, and community recognized with such an honor. This award lets everyone across America know what we have known for years: that Mannsdale Upper Elementary is among the very best in the nation.”
Opened in the fall of 2016 as part of the A-rated Germantown Zone of Madison County Schools, Mannsdale Upper Elementary School has quickly proven worthy of this national honor. In the years since its founding, Mannsdale Upper Elementary has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as the only stand-alone Elementary School of Innovation in the state. Mannsdale Upper Elementary has also been named a STAR school by the state of Mississippi. The school’s exemplary programs, including a Leadership Academy, Student Council, Honor Choir, and Junior Master Gardener Program, have received praise and recognition for excellence and innovation, and school-wide test scores consistently rank among the highest in the state. Mannsdale Upper Elementary, home to nearly 600 students in grades three through five and more than 60 faculty and staff members, is dedicated to building relationships and engaging students in thoughtful and meaningful learning that allows them to grow and develop academically.
The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held later this fall in Washington, D.C., at which time recognized schools will receive plaques and flags commemorating this monumental honor.
