23 Maryland Schools Named 2026-2027 Blue Ribbon Honorees
Parents can check if their local school is among the 23 statewide honorees recognized for academic achievement.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you trust that state academic honors accurately reflect the quality of schools in your area?
Governor Wes Moore has named 23 Maryland schools as 2026-2027 Blue Ribbon Schools, a significant increase from the seven honored last year. Among the awardees are six schools located in Montgomery County.
Why it matters
This designation highlights institutions that have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement and success in closing performance gaps for students. For families, the recognition serves as a marker of the educational quality and school climate within these specific communities.
A total of 23 schools across Maryland earned the Blue Ribbon designation for 2026-2027, marking a notable rise from the seven schools honored in 2025. This group includes six Montgomery County institutions and Urbana Middle School in Frederick County.
The players
Wes Moore
The current Governor of Maryland who announced the state's latest school honorees.
Maryland State Board of Education
The state agency responsible for overseeing public education and recognizing high-performing schools.
The details
The Blue Ribbon program identifies schools based on sustained high performance on both state and national academic assessments. Additionally, the selection process evaluates a school's demonstrated success in narrowing achievement gaps among diverse student populations. Schools that meet these rigorous standards are formally recognized by the state for their commitment to academic growth and equity.
Timeline
Governor Wes Moore announced the 2026-2027 Blue Ribbon schools on Oct. 20, 2026.
Seven schools were recognized under the program in 2025.
The schools will be formally recognized at the Maryland State Board of Education meeting on Dec. 8, 2026.
The Home Front
Maryland's selection process mirrors the national standards established by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. This state-level recognition often correlates with high demand for local housing within the boundaries of the honored school districts.
Families can review the full list of 23 schools to see if their local district is included in this year's state recognition. Understanding these designations can be helpful when assessing regional school quality for long-term neighborhood planning.
The takeaway
The designation recognizes schools that have proven their ability to foster academic progress and equity for all students. Parents may find it useful to cross-reference these honorees with their current school district maps for future planning.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational standards in our Secondary Education section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that state academic honors accurately reflect the quality of schools in your area?
