Lincoln-Way East High School is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of only 15 public schools in Illinois to receive the 2025 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Award. The honor recognizes Lincoln-Way East’s exemplary academic performance and commitment to excellence.
The Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools program, launched by Governor J.B. Pritzker, honors schools that demonstrated outstanding performance in the application process for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon program before its cancellation. In total, 28 schools across the state (15 public and 13 private) were awarded the distinction this year. According to the Governor’s Office, the 2025 recipients had already been selected by the U.S. Department of Education before the program ended. Those honored by the State program were due to be honored with the award at the national level before the program’s cancellation.
While the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program no longer exists, it was for decades considered one of the highest honors a school could receive. Schools selected under that program were widely seen as being among the top 1 % of schools in the nation, which is a benchmark that demonstrates exceptionally high standards in student achievement and educational excellence.
Lincoln-Way East’s receipt of this award reflects the dedication of its administration, faculty, staff, students, and community partners to continuous growth, innovation, and high standards. This recognition speaks to the school’s culture of excellence and its ability to deliver strong academic outcomes for all students.
East Principal Toriano Griggs said, “Being named a National Blue Ribbon School is an incredible honor, but more than anything, it’s a reflection of who we are as a community. It represents years of dedication from our teachers, determination from our students, and incredible support from our families. Excellence at Lincoln-Way East is a mindset, a culture, and a promise we live every day. Go East. Go Griffins. Go Blue.”
A public recognition event honoring all recipients will be held in Springfield at the Governor’s Mansion in spring 2026.