Wayne Builta Elementary School in Indian Prairie School District 204 earned a 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon designation, one of 24 schools recognized statewide.
Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced the recipients Tuesday, Oct. 20 during a ceremony at John Mills Elementary School in Elmwood Park, according to Patch. Builta was recognized in the "High Performing" category for consistently strong academic outcomes over multiple years.
The school is the only District 204 campus on the 2026 list, which includes 16 public schools and eight nonpublic institutions from communities statewide.
"This achievement is not the result of one person or one year," District 204 Superintendent Dr. John Price said in a district news release. "Rather, it is a culmination of years of hard work from the staff, and also celebrates the hard work of the students and their families."
Principal Adrienne Morgan, teachers Allison Wright and Niiha Bedi, and Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Laura Rosenblum represented Builta at the Tuesday, Oct. 20 ceremony, according to the district.
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools Program is now in its second year. Illinois established it in 2025 after the federal government canceled the national Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which had recognized top schools for more than 40 years.
The state program uses the same criteria as the former federal version, measuring statewide assessment data, graduation rates and participation, NCTV17 reported.
Schools qualify through one of two pathways, according to the district: exemplary high performance over time, or significant progress in closing achievement gaps between student groups.
Eligible schools then submit a detailed application covering curriculum, instructional practices, school culture and family involvement.
Kennedy Junior High School in District 203 earned the same honor in the program's inaugural year in 2025.
All 24 honorees will be invited to a recognition event at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield this spring. A specific date has not been announced.
