Two School District of Philadelphia schools – the West Philadelphia based Penn Alexander School and South Philly based Girard Academic Music Program School (GAMP) – have received the 2021 National Blue Ribbon designation, according to an announcement by the District. Both schools are among the nation’s highest performing based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates. These are two of 13 schools in Pennsylvania – and the only two schools in Philadelphia – to achieve Blue Ribbon status this year.

Penn Alexander received the 2021 National Blue Ribbon designation for “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.” The school was also recognized as National Blue Ribbon School in 2016. Penn Alexander serves just under 600 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is the result of a historic partnership between the University of Pennsylvania and the District.

Penn Alexander’s principal, Lauren Overton, was principal at Meredith Elementary when it was awarded the Blue Ribbon designation in 2018.

GAMP, which serves more than 600 students in grades five through 12 from across the city, received the 2021 Blue Ribbon designation for “Exemplary High Performing.” The school, which is located in South Philadelphia’s Girard Estates, is a college preparatory school with a heavy focus on helping students pursue music as a main subject.