Little Flower School in Bethesda, Maryland, has been named a Maryland Blue Ribbon School for 2025–2026, one of seven schools recognized statewide for exceptional academic achievement and commitment to excellence. The honor follows the state’s reinstatement of the Blue Ribbon program after the federal government ended the long-running National Blue Ribbon Schools initiative earlier this year.
Little Flower School, which received the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award in 2017 and 2008, had a school celebration on Oct. 14 for its Maryland Blue Ribbon School honor.
Holy Trinity School in Washington, D.C., was also honored as a nominee for a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School award before the federal program was discontinued in August. Both schools are part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program was established by the U.S. Department of Education in 1982 to recognize public and private schools for academic excellence and progress in closing achievement gaps. For more than four decades, it represented the nation’s highest symbol of school performance. The program was discontinued following a March 20 executive order by President Donald Trump directing the closure of the Department of Education and the return of educational authority to states and local communities.
In response to the federal program’s termination, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the reinstatement of the state’s own Blue Ribbon Schools Program on Sept. 30. The initiative recognizes schools for high achievement on national and state assessments and for progress in narrowing performance gaps among student groups.
“We are proud to elevate and honor these exceptional institutions of learning, which are inspiring the next generation to work and lead,” Gov. Moore said in a statement.
Dr. Carey M. Wright, Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, said the state’s Blue Ribbon schools “model the ‘best of the best’ practices in teaching and learning across the state,” noting the program’s collaboration with the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington.
Little Flower School in Bethesda, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, was recognized in the Exemplary High Performing category. Founded in the 1940s and staffed by dedicated lay educators, Little Flower offers a rigorous academic curriculum grounded in Catholic values and a strong culture of community service. Students at the school consistently perform above national averages on standardized assessments, and the school maintains a longstanding partnership with Little Flower Parish in promoting faith formation and academic excellence.
Holy Trinity School in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., was among the schools nominated for the 2025 National Blue Ribbon recognition before the program was discontinued. Founded in 1818 by the Society of Jesus, the school holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic elementary school in continuous operation in the District of Columbia.
In a letter dated Sept. 30, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser congratulated Holy Trinity on its nomination, noting the school’s “core principles of excellence in education, the service of faith, and the promotion of justice.” She added that the school’s recognition “appropriately reflects its distinguished legacy” and said she was “#DCProud” to celebrate the achievement with the community.
The 2025–2026 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored in November at the State Board of Education meeting and again next spring by the Maryland General Assembly. Each school will receive a Maryland Blue Ribbon banner, flag, and citation recognizing its achievement.
Since the program’s inception, schools within the Archdiocese of Washington have received the Blue Ribbon designation more than 50 times.
For more information on Little Flower School, visit www.littleflowerschool.org, and for Holy Trinity School, visit www.htsdc.org.
