By Theresa Knapp

Hopedale Junior-Senior High School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School. It is one of 353 schools across the nation to receive this award in 2023. 

“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,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. 

“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. 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.”

Shortly after the announcement on Sept. 19, a social media post on the ‘Hopedale Town Administrator’ page read: “This national award recognizes Hopedale Jr.-Sr., High School as one of the top performing schools not only in the Commonwealth, but in theNation this year. Also, your Town Administrator [Mitch Ruscitti] may or may not have been an ‘05 Hopedale graduate, so this news has been greeted exceptionally well in this office.” 

To learn more about the award, visit www.nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov