Vestavia Hills Elementary West named National Blue Ribbon School

Vestavia Hills Elementary West (VHEW) joined the ranks of the top schools in the U.S. on Sept. 28, as it was named a National Blue Ribbon School.

VHEW is one of five schools in the state and 329 in the nation to receive this honor in 2016. National Blue Ribbon Schools must rank in the top 15 percent in their state on student assessment results. VHEW was nominated by the state Department of Education as an Exemplary High Performing school due to its testing results.

“We could not be more proud of this recognition on behalf of West Elementary and Vestavia Hills City Schools,” Superintendent Sheila Phillips said in a release. “The faculty and staff are most deserving of this honor. This award affirms what we know about the level of excellence in education our children receive.”

The Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a ceremony in November in Washington, D.C. VHEW will receive a plaque and a flag for its achievement.

This is not the first Vestavia school to receive such an honor. The high school was named a Blue Ribbon School in 1990 and 2009, Pizitz Middle received the award in 1994-96, Vestavia Hills Elementary East received the award when it was still Vestavia Hills Elementary School in 1985, and Cahaba Heights Elementary was a Blue Ribbon School in 1984 when it was part of the Jefferson County School System.