Grant Elementary honored as Blue Ribbon School; students spotlighted

Grant Elementary Principal Christine Foot told the Lakewood City School Board on May 4 that the school has been named a Blue Ribbon School, an honor she said places Grant among "one of only 14 schools in the state" to receive the award. She credited the distinction to sustained staff efforts and student growth: "324 kids here grew," she said, and staff reported that students at Grant rank in the top 15 percent statewide in math and English language arts measures mentioned in the report.

Foot introduced student spotlights and staff recognitions during the superintendent's report. Fifth-grader Tommy Bullock and fellow fifth-grader Molly Jacely were recognized for academic achievement and improved attendance, respectively. Students also presented short summaries of club work: Leo Gromek described hands-on environmental learning with the Green Team, saying those experiences helped him learn to measure pH and turn mistakes into lessons. Elena summarized her leadership club’s work to secure new bike racks, and Edith Young described empathy-building activities in the No Place for Hate program.

The board showed a short video produced by a parent volunteer and videographer to highlight Grant’s whole-child approach and core competencies. Board members praised students’ poise and the warmth conveyed in the presentation; the board also noted a planned celebration for the school community on Friday.

Why it matters: The Blue Ribbon designation is a national recognition that districts use to highlight high-performing schools and model instructional approaches. At the meeting, staff framed the award as evidence of the district’s emphasis on whole-child instruction and extracurricular opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom.

What’s next: Grant Elementary will hold a community celebration later this week; district leaders said they will post the meeting recording when available.