GREENVILLE, NC (WITN) – The U.S. Department of Education announces that a Greenville middle school has been named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.

Hope Middle School is one of six schools in North Carolina to receive this award today. Rock Ridge Elementary in Wilson County was the only other school in Eastern Carolina to receive this award.

Hope is the first National Blue Ribbon School in Pitt County and has been recognized as an “exemplary high-performing school.”

“We are deeply honored and incredibly proud to be nominated by the NC Department of Public Education to ultimately be named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education,” said Jennifer Johnson, principal of Hope Middle School. “This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of our entire school community – our students, teachers, staff and families – who have worked together to create an environment of excellence, growth and inclusion.”

According to the press release, this award recognizes a school with high academic achievement or a school that is making significant efforts to close student achievement gaps. Each nominated school had to submit a comprehensive application about its culture and community.

Today, 356 schools across the country received this honor.

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