Texas is charting its own educational recognition path. In a significant move highlighting the state’s focus on educational excellence, Governor Greg Abbott has announced 28 schools as the inaugural recipients of the 2025 Lone Star Ribbon Schools award.
The newly established program, which replaces participation in the National Blue Ribbon Schools recognition, honors Texas schools demonstrating outstanding academic achievement and success in closing performance gaps among student groups. This transition marks a deliberate shift toward state-led recognition that better reflects local educational priorities.
“Texas is on the pathway to become No. 1 in educating our children,” said Governor Abbott. “Today, we recognize the Texas schools whose hard work from teachers, staff, and parents are helping our students achieve academic excellence. Texas will continue to invest in our schools to improve performance and better prepare Texans for the workforce.”
Why the change matters
What’s behind this transition to a Texas-specific program? The move represents more than just a name change. By developing the Lone Star Ribbon Schools recognition, Texas education officials aim to create standards and recognition criteria that specifically align with the state’s educational goals and community values.
“With Texas overseeing the new Lone Star Ribbon program, this recognition will better reflect the priorities and values of local schools and communities,” the Texas Education Agency noted. “This change ensures that decisions about honoring excellence in Texas education are made by those who know Texas schools best.”
The 28 recognized schools come from diverse districts across the state, including both urban centers and rural communities. Notable districts with schools receiving the honor include Houston ISD and Harmony Public Schools, demonstrating the award’s broad reach across different educational environments.
Excellence across the state
Among the recognized institutions are Barbers Hill Elementary North, Kent Elementary, Rosemeade Elementary, Carnegie Vanguard High School, and Tyler ISD Early College High School. These schools represent a cross-section of Texas education, from elementary to high school levels, each demonstrating exceptional performance in their respective communities.
The recognition comes as part of a broader push by the Abbott administration to highlight and invest in educational excellence. “Texas will continue to invest in our schools to improve performance and better prepare Texans for the workforce,” the governor emphasized in his statement on the new program.
For the recognized schools, the designation represents validation of their educational approaches and commitment to serving all students effectively. But beyond individual recognition, the program signals Texas’s intention to define educational success on its own terms.
Governor Abbott concluded his announcement with a forward-looking statement that underscores the award’s significance: “I congratulate the 28 campuses who are now 2025 Lone Star Ribbon Schools. Together, we will chart a path toward a bigger, brighter Texas.”
