Hinsdale Central High School is one of 18 schools from Illinois to be named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
“This award is a testament to the tireless efforts of our exemplary faculty and staff, the unwavering support of our families and community, and, most importantly, the passionate commitment to learning that our students exhibit on a daily basis,” Principal Bill Walsh said.
The Education Department recognizes schools in one of two performance categories that are based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates. Hinsdale Central was named an Exemplary High Performing School, which denotes that it is among the highest performing schools in Illinois as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
“On behalf of District 86, I want to congratulate Hinsdale Central on this incredible achievement,” Superintendent Tammy Prentiss said. “While the award itself is impressive, what truly makes this moment special is that every member of the school community contributed to this accomplishment. We look forward to celebrating this well-deserved honor and the important work that Hinsdale Central is doing to guide our students down the path toward their ideal future.”
All of the 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools‚ including Community Consolidated School District 181’s Prospect School in Clarendon Hills, will be recognized during a ceremony in early November. In the meantime, Walsh used a familiar phrase to help sum up his feelings about the award.
“We often celebrate our successes at Central by saying ‘It’s a great day to be alive and a Red Devil,’ ” he said. “This recognition epitomizes the spirit of that phrase and the immense pride we have in our school.”
