Eugene Field earns National Blue-Ribbon recognition amid program changes
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) — Eugene Field Elementary School has earned recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School, though federal officials recently dismantled the longstanding program before formal honors could be awarded.
School officials said Eugene Field met all measurable objectives for the designation just days before the U.S. Department of Education ended the National Blue-Ribbon Schools program, established in 1982 to recognize top-performing schools nationwide.
Instead of receiving the traditional Blue-Ribbon flag, Eugene Field was honored as one of Missouri’s eight Gold Star Schools, the state-level distinction that previously served as a precursor to national recognition through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
R-I Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Rondi Vaughn praised the school during a recognition dinner Feb. 12 at Westwood Center, citing the building’s commitment to student achievement and continuous improvement.
Gold Star Schools must rank in the top 15% of public schools statewide based on student performance in English language arts and mathematics, as well as in the top 40% based on outcomes of designated student subgroups. The district’s four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate also had to rank in the top 15% statewide.
According to state assessment data, 71.76% of Eugene Field students scored proficient or advanced in math on the 2024 Missouri Assessment Program test, reflecting a nearly 17% increase from the previous year. In English language arts, 64.37% scored proficient or advanced, exceeding state averages.
Principal Kristen Spain said the recognition reflects the school’s focus on leadership development and student ownership of learning. Spain credited staff and former building leadership for establishing systems that support academic growth and a positive school culture.
Eugene Field has been designated a Lighthouse School under The Leader in Me framework for the past decade and was previously recognized as an Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished School for closing achievement gaps.
State education officials celebrated Missouri Gold Star Schools earlier this month at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Powerful Learning conference in Osage Beach.
