The Joseph E. Fiske Elementary School is one of 356 schools nationwide recognized by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools award winner.
Fiske was one of nine schools in Massachusetts to earn the Exemplary High Performing School award. That distinction recognizes top performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
The prestigious awards are handed out each year by the U.S. Department of Education to top-performing public and private schools in the country. Public schools must be nominated by their state departments of education. Fiske, which serves approximately 278 students in grades K-5, is the third WPS school to earn the National Blue Ribbon designation, following Sprague (2010) and Hardy (2021).
One of Fiske’s strengths is its cultural diversity, where families represent approximately 25 different countries, with 21 percent speaking a primary language at home that is not English.
“We are a child-centered school, where each student is viewed as an individual and encouraged to reach their full potential,” said Rachel McGregor, Fiske principal for the past nine years. “Our incredible teachers take pride in providing a learning experience that is both nurturing and challenging, while our families are eager and willing to consistently support our school. We believe that Fiske thrives thanks to the collaborative commitment and effort of parents, teachers and students.”
The U.S. Department of Education, in its press release today, outlined the characteristics of National Blue Ribbon Schools as having leaders with a clear vision and high expectations; effective teaching methods; robust professional development; effective, data-driven instruction; and a commitment by all members of the school community to ensure every student succeeds.
“This well-deserved honor reflects the skill and commitment of Principal McGregor and her exceptional team of educators and support staff, who every day support our mission of providing an equitable and excellent education to all students.” said David Lussier, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools.
About the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed more than 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. Photographs and descriptions of the 2024 award winners are available at nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/.