Now in its 42nd year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the full diversity of American schools: public schools including charter schools, magnet/choice schools, Title I schools, and non-public schools including parochial and independent schools. They are urban, suburban, and rural, large and small, traditional and innovative, and serve students of every social, economic, and ethnic background.

• “Exemplary High Performing” schools have their state’s highest high school graduation rates and the highest achieving students (the top 15%) in English and mathematics, measured by state assessments.
• “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing” schools have made the greatest advances (top 15%) in closing subgroup achievement gaps in English and mathematics over the past three to five years, measured by state assessments.

Non-public schools are recognized as “Exemplary High Performing” if their student achievement in English and mathematics is among the highest in the country (top 15%), measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

Public schools are nominated by the Chief State School Officer in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). At least one-third of public schools nominated in each state must have high percentages of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “High percentage” typically means at least 40 percent unless a state has a lower average percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. All public schools must also meet their state’s annual measurable performance targets.

The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates non-public schools, including parochial and independent schools. A total of 421 schools nationwide may be nominated, with state allocations determined by the number of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction, ranging from a minimum of three schools to a maximum of 35. CAPE may nominate up to 50 non-public schools.

National Blue Ribbon Schools are honored at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC, where each receives a plaque and flag to signify its exemplary status. These schools serve as examples for other schools throughout the nation and details of their achievements are shared on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

South Carolina Historical National Blue Ribbon Award Winners since the first awards were given out in 1983:

School	City	Type	# Awards	Award Year(s)
West Pelzer Elementary School	Pelzer	Public	1	2025
Aiken Scholars Academy	Aiken	Public	1	2025
Cross High School	Cross	Public	1	2025
Charleston County School of the Arts	North Charleston	Public	1	2025
Sand Hill Elementary School	Summerville	Public	1	2024
Academic Magnet High School	North Charleston	Public	1	2024
Langston Charter Middle School	Greenville	Public	1	2024
Sterling School	Greenville	Public	1	2023
Coosa Elementary School	Beaufort	Public	1	2023
Ben Lippen School	Columbia	Private	1	2023
St. James Elementary School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2022
Fairfield Magnet for Math and Science	Winnsboro	Public	1	2022
Brashier Middle College Charter High School	Simpsonville	Public	1	2022
Belle Hall Elementary School	Mt. Pleasant	Public	1	2021
Clemson Elementary School	Clemson	Public	1	2021
Meeting Street Academy-Spartanburg	Spartanburg	Public	1	2021
Powdersville Middle School	Greenville	Public	1	2021
A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering	Greenville	Public	1	2020
Chapman High School	Inman	Public	1	2020
Nation Ford High School	Fort Mill	Public	1	2020
Ocean Drive Elementary School	North Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2020
Rollings Middle School Of The Arts	Summerville	Public	1	2020
Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary School	Chesnee	Public	1	2019
Lake Murray Elementary School	Lexington	Public	1	2019
Ocean Bay Elementary School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2019
Spearman Elementary School	Piedmont	Public	1	2019
Beech Hill Elementary School	Summerville	Public	1	2018
Mount Lebanon Elementary School	Pendleton	Public	1	2018
Tigerville Elementary School	Taylors	Public	2	2018, 2025
York Preparatory Academy	Rock Hill	Public	1	2018
Brockman Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	2017
Buist Academy for Advanced Studies	Charleston	Public	2	2017, 2024
HCS Early College High School	Conway	Public	1	2017
Palmetto Scholars Academy	N Charleston	Public	1	2017
Skyland Elementary School	Greer	Public	1	2017
Waccamaw Intermediate School	Pawleys Island	Public	1	2016
Wade Hampton High School	Greenville	Public	1	2016
Forestbrook Middle School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2015
Lakewood Elementary School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2015
Myrtle Beach Intermediate School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2015
T.E. Mabry Middle School	Inman	Public	1	2015
Woodruff Elementary School	Woodruff	Public	1	2015
Hanahan Elementary School	Hanahan	Public	1	2014
Hanahan Middle School	Hanahan	Public	1	2014
Prince of Peace Catholic School	Taylors	Private	2	2014, 2025
Royall Elementary School	Florence	Public	1	2014
Socastee Elementary School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2014
Mayo High For Math, Science & Technology	Darlington	Public	2	2013, 2021
Flowertown Elementary School	Summerville	Public	1	2013
New Prospect Elementary	Inman	Public	1	2013
Okatie Elementary School	Okatie	Public	1	2013
Ware Shoals Elementary School	Ware Shoals	Public	1	2013
Hammond Hill Elementary School	North Augusta	Public	1	2012
Marrington Middle School of the Arts	Goose Creek	Public	1	2012
Oak Grove Elementary School	Lexington	Public	1	2012
South Kilbourne Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	2012
Gadsden Elementary School	Gadsden	Public	1	2011
Holly Springs Elementary School	Pickens	Public	1	2011
Townville Elementary School	Townville	Public	1	2011
Ballentine Elementary School	Irmo	Public	1	2010
Charles Pinckney Elementary School	Mt. Pleasant	Public	1	2010
Greenville Technical Charter High School	Greenville	Public	1	2010
Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School	Goose Creek	Public	1	2010
Powdersville Elementary School	Greenville	Public	1	2010
Saint Mary's Catholic School	Greenville	Private	2	2009, 2020
Carolina Elementary School	Hartsville	Public	1	2009
Christ Our King-Stella Maris School	Mount Pleasant	Private	2	2009, 2023
Chukker Creek Elementary School	Aiken	Public	1	2009
Midland Elementary School	Galivants Ferry	Public	1	2009
Ninety Six High School	Ninety Six	Public	1	2009
Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School	Rowesville	Public	1	2008
Carver Elementary	Florence	Public	1	2008
Crestview Elementary	Greer	Public	1	2008
Lake Carolina Elementary	Blythewood	Public	1	2008
Gold Hill Elementary School	Fort Mill	Public	2	2007, 2022
Jennie Moore Elementary School	Mt. Pleasant	Public	1	2007
Southside Christian Lower School	Simpsonville	Private	1	2007
W. M. Anderson Primary School	Kingstree	Public	1	2007
Wright Elementary School	Belton	Public	1	2007
Brown's Ferry Elementary School	Georgetown	Public	1	2006
Lexington High School	Lexington	Public	1	2006
Seven Oaks Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	2006
Sampit Elementary School	Georgetown	Public	1	2005
St. Andrew Catholic School	Myrtle Beach	Private	1	2005
Stono Park Elementary School	Charleston	Public	1	2005
Woodruff High School	Woodruff	Public	1	2005
Fort Mill High School	Fort Mill	Public	2	2004, 2018
Carolina Forest Elementary School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2004
Honea Path Elementary School	Honea Path	Public	1	2004
Midway Elementary School	Lexington	Public	1	2004
Pate Elementary School	Darlington	Public	1	2004
Mt. Pleasant Academy	Mt. Pleasant	Public	1	2003
Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	2002
Oakview Elementary School	Simpsonville	Public	2	2001, 2006
Forestbrook Elementary School	Myrtle Beach	Public	3	2001, 2003, 2012
Mitchell Road Elementary School	Greenville	Public	2	2001, 2022
Reidville Elementary School	Reidville	Public	1	2001
Rice Creek Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	2001
Woodland Heights Elementary School	Spartanburg	Public	1	2001
Hand Middle School	Columbia	Public	1	2000
Pickens Middle School	Pickens	Public	1	2000
R.P. Dawkins Middle School	Moore	Public	1	2000
T. L. Hanna High School	Anderson	Public	1	2000
West View Elementary School	Spartanburb	Public	2	1999, 2014
Saint John Neumann Catholic School	Columbia	Private	2	1999, 2008
Beauford Elementary School	Beauford	Public	1	1999
Brushy Creek Elementary School	Taylors	Public	1	1999
Cannons Elementary School	Spartanburg	Public	1	1999
Leaphart Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	1999
Lugoff Elementary	Lugoff	Public	1	1999
Pontiac Elementary School	Elgin	Public	1	1999
Windsor Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	1999
Bates Middle School	Sumter	Public	1	1998
Chapin Middle School	Chapin	Public	1	1998
D.R. Hill Middle School	Duncan	Public	1	1998
Dutch Fork High School	Irmo	Public	1	1998
Bethel Elementary School	Simpsonville	Public	2	1997, 2016
Easterling Primary School	Marion	Public	1	1997
Forest Lake Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	1997
Irmo Elementary School	Irmo	Public	1	1997
Knightsville Elementary School	Summerville	Public	1	1997
Nursery Road Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	1997
Oakland Elementary School	Charleston	Public	1	1997
Pelham Road School	Greenville	Public	1	1997
Pelion Elementary School	Pelion	Public	1	1997
Taylors Elementary School	Taylors	Public	1	1997
Chapin High School	Chapin	Public	2	1996, 2009
Campus R/Irmo Middle School	Columbia	Public	1	1996
Mid Carolina Middle School	Prosperity	Public	1	1996
St. James Middle School	Surfside Beach	Public	1	1996
Summit Parkway Middle School	Columbia	Public	1	1996
Sumter High School	Sumter	Public	1	1996
Augusta Circle Elementary School	Greenville	Public	1	1994
Dutch Fork Elementary School	Irmo	Public	1	1994
Greeleyville Elementary School	Greeleyville	Public	1	1994
Harbor View Elementary School	Charleston	Public	1	1994
L.W. Conder Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	1994
Lake City Primary School	Lake City	Public	1	1994
Mitchell Elementary School	Charleston	Public	1	1994
Oakbrook Elementary School	Ladson	Public	1	1994
Orange Grove Elementary School	Charleston	Public	1	1994
Summerville Elementary School	Summerville	Public	1	1994
C.E. Williams Middle School	Charleston	Public	1	1993
Conway Middle School	Conway	Public	1	1993
Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School	Charleston	Public	1	1992
Baker's Chapel Elementary School	Greenville	Public	1	1992
Lexington Middle School	Lexington	Public	1	1991
Socastee High School	Myrtle Beach	Public	1	1991
Aiken Elementary School	Aiken	Public	2	1990, 2005
Buena Vista Elementary School	Greer	Public	1	1990
Cliffdale Elementary School	Spartanburg	Public	1	1990
Lemira Elementary School	Sumter	Public	1	1990
Dreher High School	Columbia	Public	1	1989
Edwards Junior High School	Central	Public	1	1989
Satchel Ford Elementary School	Columbia	Public	2	1988, 2001
Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary School	Columbia	Public	2	1988, 1997
North Springs Elementary School	Elgin	Public	1	1988
Shaw Heights Elementary School	Shaw Air Force Base	Public	1	1988
Joseph Keels Elementary School	Columbia	Public	2	1986, 1994
Conder Elementary School	Columbia	Public	1	1986
Cowpens Elementary School	Cowpens	Public	1	1986
Dent Middle School	Columbia	Public	2	1985, 1998
Richland Northeast High School	Columbia	Public	2	1985, 1993
Conway High School	Conway	Public	1	1985
Hillcrest Middle School	Simpsonville	Public	1	1985
Mauldin High School	Mauldin	Public	1	1985
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School	Columbia	Private	2	1984, 1997
E.L. Wright Middle School	Columbia	Public	1	1984
Rock Hill High School	Rock Hill	Public	1	1984
Spring Valley High School	Columbia	Public	2	1983, 1996
Irmo High School	Columbia	Public	3	1983, 1995, 2003
Spartanburg High School	Spartanburg	Public	4	1983, 1988, 1992, 1997
Camden High School	Camden	Public	1	1983
League Middle School	Greenville	Public	1	1983