To Apply for the 2025 Program

    1. Download CAPE’s Procedures for Private Schools.
    2. Download the BRS application in PDF format.
    3. Download the assessment cut scores for high performing schools and gap closing schools from the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site to see if your school qualifies.
    4. Sign up for Email Updates on National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
    5. Complete the online pre-registration form by October 28, 2024. Schools that do not complete this form by the deadline will not be eligible and will have to apply during the next cycle.
    6. After November 11, 2024 registered schools will be sent an email message containing a school code and keyword that they can use to access their online application. Before then, schools should refer to the PDF version in #2 above to prepare responses and data for the online application.
    7. Complete the online application after receiving the school code and keyword. All applications must be completed and submitted online by January 10, 2025.

Download the NBRS Application Process Pacing Guide

Process and Timeline

Timeline Procedures
By October 28, 2025 School officials download:
After November 11, 2024 School officials receive an email notification containing a school code and keyword that they can use to set up and access their online application through the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Portal.
By January 10, 2025 CAPE must receive the school’s application, uploaded to the USDE portal, by 5p.m., January 10, 2025. Schools will no longer be mailing in physical copies of the application and AV, the process is exclusively electronic via the USDE portal.
By February 21, 2025 CAPE’s review panel selects 50 schools to nominate for the award and advises applicants accordingly. Schools are notified of the results, and nominated schools receive feedback on how to improve their applications.
By March 21, 2025 School officials from nominated schools complete online edits.
By April 11, 2025 CAPE submits final applications for the nominated schools to Department of Education.
September 2025 Secretary of Education announces the 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
November 2025 Ceremony takes place in Washington, DC, to honor the National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Online Application Process

After November 11, schools that pre-registered for the program by the October 28 deadline will receive via email a school code and keyword to access the online application. Schools must complete the application online.

Here are some guidelines for completing the online application using the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Portal:

  1. Narrative responses to application questions must address the topic succinctly. No attachments to the online application can be submitted. Bulleted sections are not acceptable.
  2. Tables, charts, graphs, photos cannot be accommodated by the online application. 
  3. On-line instructions must be followed when copying/pasting text from Word to the online application.
  4. Saving work frequently is necessary to protect the “work in progress.”
  5. Printing the application for review is possible before and after the final submission.
  6. Public and private school applicants must convert the original signed cover page of the application to a PDF file and upload the PDF via the online application portal.
  7. All applications must be completed and submitted by the program’s timelines.

Instructions for completing the application are provided as online help text. Assistance is available for school applicants through the National Blue Ribbon Schools Technical Assistance Team, run by RMC Research Corp., the Department of Education’s contractor for the program. Please use this form to contact the team for help in navigating the online system, or with questions regarding responses to the narrative or data items. Alternatively, you can contact the technical support team as follows:

  • Email: ContactUs@NationalBlueRibbonSchools.com
  • Phone: 800-258-0802 or 603-422-8888

Additional Guidelines

    1. Read and follow the directions in the application packet carefully. Pay attention to the technical specifications. When CAPE’s review panel evaluates applications in an effort to narrow the field to the allotted 50, it eliminates applications that do not comply with the program’s rules and specifications.
    2. The program is looking to identify truly exemplary model schools, not just good schools or strong schools. Your responses to the questions must convey programs and practices that are well above the ordinary.
    3. Check your application against the U.S. Department of Education’s Tips for Completing the Application as well as the scoring guidelines from CAPE that reviewers will use to evaluate applications.
    4. Some narrative questions have changed for the 2025 program. Be sure your responses hit all the points called for in the two documents identified in #4 above.
    5. Proofread and edit the application. Someone with a solid background in writing should do the final edit.
    6. We welcome your phone calls (844-883-CAPE), or e-mail inquiries (brs@capenet.org) concerning any aspect of the application process. One of our goals at CAPE is to help private schools receive recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools!
    7. When you get your superintendent (e.g., for Catholic schools) and/or school board president to sign the cover sheet, do so well in advance of the January 10, 2025 due date. Faxed signatures are not accepted. Only original signed cover sheets are accepted. Also, be sure to make a PDF copy of the original signed cover sheet because you will have to upload it via the online application portal in addition to submitting it to CAPE.
    8. Be sure to read the Part I Eligibility Certification carefully to make sure you meet the criteria listed, and be sure to submit the certification with your application.
    9. Here are some points to review in connection with part II of the application:
      1. The percentages reported in #6, #7, and #8 are calculated using the ratio of the total number of students in each category to the total student enrollment in the school (last row and column of #3).
      2. The ratio reported in #11 should be calculated using full-time equivalent classroom teachers, which can be determined by using row 2 of item 10. For example, five full-time teachers and six half-time teachers equal eight full-time equivalent teachers.
    10. Examples of responses to particular questions may be found in the applications of winning private schools from previous years. See the NBRS Awards Page of the USDE Web site.
    11. Avoid using the first person (we, our, etc.) in the narrative.
    12. Schools that have enrollments under 100 (excluding the number of students in PreK) or that have enrollments of nine or fewer students tested in any grade for which test scores are reported are NOT eligible to apply.
    13. If you belong to a (arch)diocese, identify the (arch)diocese and superintendent in the “district” section. Make sure the superintendent signs the cover sheet that you submit with the paper copies of the application.