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What Drives School Success?

What one practice has been most instrumental to your school’s success? 2016 and 2018 NBRS awardee application responses were analyzed to find commonalities, broad themes, and potential demographic differences for each cohort.

Practices naturally fell into four categories, or key drivers influencing school success: Student Supports, Instruction, School Structure, and Curriculum. To learn more about each cohort, the elements within each key driver, and to see snapshots of example practices, take a closer look at the Drivers:

What Drives National Blue Ribbon Schools to the Top?

Review of the KEY DRIVERS reported by 2016 applicants revealed that, regardless of schools’ public or non-public status, size, level, locale, percentage of disadvantaged students, or diversity, 65% attributed their success to STUDENT SUPPORTS or INSTRUCTION.

  • 34% STUDENT SUPPORTS –– e.g., whole child education, school culture, family engagement.
  • 31% INSTRUCTION –– e.g., data-driven instruction, student-specific instructional support, project-based instruction.
  • 23% SCHOOL STRUCTURE –– e.g., collaborative culture, strong leadership, effective teachers, partnerships
  • 12% CURRICULUM –– e.g., ELA, STEM, college and career readiness.

What Drives 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools to the top?

A review of the KEY DRIVERS reported by the 2018 applicants revealed that, regardless of school size, level, locale, percentage of disadvantaged students, or diversity, 65% attributed their success to INSTRUCTION or STUDENT SUPPORTS.

  • 33% INSTRUCTION –– e.g., data-driven instruction, student-centered instruction, individualized instruction, instructional models.
  • 32% STUDENT SUPPORTS –– e.g., social-emotional focus, whole-child approach, school culture.
  • 28% SCHOOL SUPPORTS –– e.g., collaborative culture, empowered teachers, effective leaders, school structure.
  • 7% CURRICULUM –– e.g., ELA, STEM, specialized curricular program.

A further analysis of the 2016 and 2018 cohort responses found:

  • In both years, nearly two thirds (65%) of the responses named either Student Supports or Instruction as their key driver.
  • Regardless of school size, grade level, locale, and disadvantaged population, the majority of schools identified Student Supports or Instruction as their key driver to success.
  • Schools in 2018 were more apt to attribute their success to School Structures than in 2016 (28%, 22% respectively).
  • Curriculum was less apt to be mentioned in 2018 compared to 2016 (7%, 12%).

The NBRS program collects statistics on recognized schools through the application process, including the numbers by school grade level, types of schools, those with a high percentage of disadvantaged student population, as well as geographic locale. View demographic statistical overviews for 2016 or 2018.