Of those, 300 are public schools and 49 are private schools. All schools are honored in one of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing (based on results of state assessments or nationally normed tests) and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing (based on improving performance of some groups as compared to other groups). Of the schools nominated in each state, one-third must have at least 40 of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Some other stats:

• Texas and Illinois, each with 24, had the most schools on the list. New York was second with 20, and Pennsylvania third with 19.
• Of the public schools, 70 percent were elementary schools, 20 percent high schools, 7 percent were middle schools, and 3 percent were preschools.
• Elementary schools made up 88 percent off the private schools, with high schools and preschools taking out the other 6 percent each. (No private middle schools made the list.
• For public schools, 44 percent were suburban, 38 were rural of small city/town, and 19 percent were urban or large central city.
• Private schools on the list were overwhelming suburban, with 78 percent, followed by urban or large central city with 12 percent and rural of small city/town with 10 percent.

This is the 36th year in which the Department of Education has named Blue Ribbon Schools. Driving the creation of the program in 1982 was then-Education Secretary Terrel H. Bell, also known as the author of the study A Nation at Risk. In all, the Department has so named more than 8,800 schools. Bell also created the Distinguished Principal Award, which has since been named after him.

A November 7–8 awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., will celebrate this year's winners.

Complete list of Blue Ribbon Schools