St. James Elementary Named A National Blue Ribbon School

September 16, 2022

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced today that St. James Elementary School is among the winners earning National Blue Ribbon Schools designation for 2022. This designation is the highest honor a school can receive from the U.S. Department of Education.

Horry County Schools (HCS) St. James Elementary was one of 297 schools in the nation and five schools in the state to earn this coveted award, given only to schools that are Exemplary High Performing or those with Exemplary Achievement in Closing the Achievement Gap. St. James Elementary earned its National Blue Ribbon Schools distinction for Exemplary High Performance, measured by student achievement being in the top 15 percent on state assessments for English language arts and mathematics.

Now in its 39^th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement.

St. James Elementary is the 15^th school in HCS to receive the National Blue Ribbon Schools award. Within the past decade, other winners include Ocean Drive Elementary School (2020); Ocean Bay Elementary School (2019); HCS Early College High School (2017); Forestbrook Middle School, Myrtle Beach Intermediate School, and Lakewood Elementary School (2015); Socastee Elementary School (2014); and Forestbrook Elementary (2012).