News Summary
Eight schools in the Houston area have been awarded the Lone Star Ribbon Award, a new state-level recognition program initiated by Governor Greg Abbott. This award celebrates academic excellence and aims to align education standards with local values, following the discontinuation of the national Blue Ribbon Schools program. The schools honored demonstrate exceptional performance and commitment to closing achievement gaps among students, serving as a model for educational success across Texas.
Houston – Eight schools in the Houston area have been honored with the newly established Lone Star Ribbon Award, a recognition created by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as part of a shift from the national Blue Ribbon Schools program. This announcement was made on September 29, 2025, and is part of an initiative to return educational recognition to state control in Texas.
The Lone Star Ribbon program is designed to identify and commend schools across Texas that demonstrate exceptional academic performance and achievement. A total of 28 schools have received the Lone Star Ribbon this year, highlighting the ongoing commitment of educators to foster academic excellence within their institutions.
The eight Houston area schools that received this recognition include:
- Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston Independent School District – HISD)
- Project Chrysalis Middle School (HISD)
- Thompson Elementary (HISD)
- Barbers Hill Elementary North (Barbers Hill Independent School District – ISD)
- Meyer Elementary (Lamar Consolidated Independent School District – Lamar CISD)
- Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun (private school)
- Harmony Science Academy – Katy (Charter school)
- Harmony Science Academy – Sugar Land (Charter school)
The establishment of the Lone Star Ribbon program follows the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to discontinue the national Blue Ribbon Schools program, aiming to return educational responsibilities to individual states. Governor Abbott stated that this program will better align recognitions with local community values and educational priorities. The schools honored under this new initiative have been recognized for their high academic performance and their effectiveness in closing achievement gaps among students.
In his announcement, Governor Abbott emphasized the importance of these recognitions, attributing them to the dedication of teachers, staff, and parents working collaboratively to support students in achieving academic excellence. This emphasis on local control suggests a shift towards a more community-centered approach to educational achievements, recognizing that local stakeholders are better suited to evaluate and promote educational success.
The Lone Star Ribbon Award seeks not only to publicly acknowledge the successes of these schools but also to encourage others across the state to adopt best practices and raise their educational standards. By celebrating schools that excel in academics, the hope is to inspire a culture of high expectations and achievement within Texas’s educational system.
This change reflects a broader trend in Texas education policy, which aims to empower communities and districts to take charge of their educational standards and accomplishments. The Lone Star Ribbon program is expected to evolve in the coming years, creating new opportunities for schools to shine on a state level.
As educational landscapes continue to shift, the recognition of these eight schools represents a significant milestone in Texas’s commitment to academic excellence, fostering an environment where student success is at the forefront of educational efforts.
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Additional Resources
- CW39 News
- Wikipedia: Lone Star Ribbon
- KETK News
- Google Search: Lone Star Ribbon Texas
- Dallas Express
- Google Scholar: Lone Star Ribbon Texas
- Houston Chronicle
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lone Star Ribbon
- Texas Border Business
- Google News: Lone Star Ribbon schools
Author: STAFF HERE HOUSTON TX WRITER
HOUSTON STAFF WRITER The HOUSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHouston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Houston, Harris County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and Chevron Houston Marathon. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Area Urban League, plus leading businesses in energy and healthcare that power the local economy such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Houston Methodist. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
