Dawes Elementary has been named a 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon School, one of just 24 schools across Illinois to receive the designation.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced the recipients at an event on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Dawes was specifically recognized as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School, a category honoring schools that have made significant progress in narrowing performance differences between student groups.

For Evanston families, the award caps a strong stretch for Evanston/Skokie School District 65. All 13 of the district's rated schools earned a designation of Commendable or higher on the 2026 Illinois School Report Card, the district announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Six schools, including Dawes, were rated Exemplary. Dewey, Orrington, Walker, Washington and Willard also earned that top mark. Chute, Haven and Nichols middle schools earned "Approaching Exemplary" designations.

The Blue Ribbon program itself is relatively new. Illinois established it in 2025 after the federal government ended the longstanding U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon program, according to District 65. The state version recognizes public and nonpublic schools that demonstrate strong academic performance or success in closing achievement gaps.

Dawes Principal Teresa Quinn said in a district statement that the recognition belongs to the school's entire community. She pointed to students, educators and families, saying Dawes is "a place where excellence and equity exist as one."

Interim Superintendent Dr. Eric Witherspoon called the honor a point of pride for the district. He said Dawes has shown what is possible when schools focus on academic excellence and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Over the past two years, the school has focused on strengthening instruction under Quinn's leadership, according to the district. That work has included a teaching approach called Building Thinking Classrooms, which aims to deepen student engagement and encourage critical thinking.

Pritzker, in a statement, congratulated all 24 Blue Ribbon schools. He said they demonstrate what is possible when students, educators, families and communities come together.

All 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon School recipients will be invited to a recognition event at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield in spring 2027.