Classical High School Named 2026 Rhode Island Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary High Performance
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Providence Public School District (PPSD) is proud to announce that Classical High School has been officially named a 2026 Rhode Island Blue Ribbon School by Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE).
Recognized in the category of Exemplary High Performance, Classical High School is one of only three schools statewide to receive this premier distinction this year. The award highlights schools that demonstrate exceptionally high literacy and mathematics proficiency alongside rigorous academic standards. The latest 2024-2025 SAT results for Classical High School show 90.9% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English Language Arts (ELA) and 68.1% in Math.
“Classical High School has long been a pillar of academic excellence in Providence, and we’re thrilled it has been recognized once again as a top school community in the Ocean State,” said Providence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and high expectations upheld by our students, educators, and school leaders every single day. Go Purple!”
A US News and World Report ranks Classical High School as the #1 school in Rhode Island, and #166 nationally out of 24,000 schools. Over 94% of Classical High School’s Class of 2026 graduates will be going on to post-secondary studies, including seven students going to Ivy League institutions. Collectively, students have also earned over $13 million in post-secondary scholarships.
Classical High School’s 2026 Blue Ribbon Award represents a major milestone for the district. It marks the third such distinction earned by a Providence Public School during the ongoing state intervention, underscoring a clear and meaningful trend of academic progress across PPSD. Classical High School previously earned the prestigious recognition in 2017. PPSD’s recent Blue Ribbon honorees include:
- Classical High School (2026) – Exemplary High Performance
- Bailey Elementary School (2025) – Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing
- Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School (2024) – Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing
“Classical High School’s recognition as a 2026 Blue Ribbon School reminds us of a simple truth: when students are challenged, supported, and inspired, there is no limit to what they can achieve,” said School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens. “This is a proud moment for Classical, but it is also a reminder of the standard we are working toward for every student in every school across Providence.”
"Classical High School's recognition as a Blue Ribbon School is a proud moment for Providence and reflects the talent, dedication, hard work and commitment of our City's students, teachers, school leaders and families," said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. "This award showcases Classical High School’s academic excellence and the progress happening within our public schools. We will continue to build on this momentum as we work together for every Providence student."
This continuous recognition validates the collaborative efforts of PPSD educators, administrators, and families who remain laser-focused on raising expectations and delivering real results for Providence students.
Following the discontinuation of the federal National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in August 2025, Rhode Island intentionally established its own state-level Blue Ribbon recognition. The state program maintains the same rigorous, federally-aligned, data-driven performance criteria to honor the Ocean State's top-performing school communities.
“Even as the federal program came to an end, Rhode Island made an intentional choice to continue recognizing and learning from our highest-performing schools,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “These schools represent excellence in action, from strong academic outcomes to meaningful progress in closing achievement gaps, and serve as models for schools across our state. Congratulations!”
The district congratulates the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Classical High School for continuing to set the standard for academic brilliance in Rhode Island.