KINGSFORD HEIGHTS, Ind. — There are more than 2,300 K-12 schools in Indiana. This year the state picked 16 of them as Indiana Blue Ribbon Schools, and three are in Northwest Indiana.
Gov. Mike Braun named the 2026 group on Oct. 5. On Oct. 7, WIMS published a La Porte Community School Corporation release saying Kingsford Heights Elementary School had made the list, and Indiana 105 ran a Region roundup the same day.
The other two local honorees are Memorial Elementary School in Valparaiso Community Schools and Saint Paul Catholic School in Valparaiso, which is part of the Diocese of Gary.
Key facts
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Schools honored statewide | 16 public and private schools | State of Indiana, Oct. 5 |
| NWI honorees | Kingsford Heights Elementary (La Porte Community School Corp.); Memorial Elementary (Valparaiso Community Schools); Saint Paul Catholic School (Diocese of Gary) | State of Indiana; Indiana 105, Oct. 7 |
| Ceremony | Fifth annual Educational Excellence Awards gala, Indianapolis, Fri., Oct. 2 | State of Indiana; WIMS, Oct. 7 |
| How schools were picked | Reading, math, and college- and career-readiness results on state tests, plus attendance | WIMS (La Porte schools release, citing the Indiana Department of Education) |
| Program age | Second year of the state designation | State of Indiana; WIMS |
| Valparaiso schools' total | 8 Blue Ribbon awards: one Indiana, seven National | Valparaiso Community Schools |
| Saint Paul's earlier honor | National Blue Ribbon School, 2022 | Post-Tribune |
Kingsford Heights is the only school in La Porte County to get the designation this year, according to the district's release. Principal Holly Wireman and members of the school community accepted the award at the Oct. 2 gala.
"Every person in this building plays a vital role in helping our Tigers each and every day, and this recognition belongs to all of them," Wireman said in the release. "It doesn't happen because of one person. It happens because of a team that truly cares about every child who walks through our doors."
Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood called it "an extraordinary accomplishment for Kingsford Heights Elementary and a proud moment for La Porte Community School Corporation." She said it reflects "a staff that knows every child by name."
Valparaiso Community Schools said Memorial's award brings the district to eight Blue Ribbon honors: one from Indiana and seven National Blue Ribbons. A group from Memorial accepted the award at the Indianapolis gala, the district said.
Memorial Principal Haley Sarkisian said in an email quoted by the Post-Tribune that the award "really represents the hard work of our entire Memorial community, our teachers, support staff, students and families who pour so much into each and every one of our kids every day."
Saint Paul celebrated with an assembly in its gym on Monday, Oct. 5, according to Post-Tribune photo captions. The Post-Tribune reported that Principal Lisa Hughes said in a Diocese of Gary release that this is the second time the school has received the honor. Saint Paul was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2022.
"This is a celebration of the students who work hard, the teachers who inspire them, the families who support them, and the faith that guides us," Hughes said, according to the Post-Tribune.
The state started its own Blue Ribbon designation last year. It carries on the tradition of the National Blue Ribbon Schools designation, which began in 1982. The first group of 11 schools was named in October 2025. That list included St. John the Evangelist School in St. John.
"With more than 2,300 K-12 schools across Indiana, to be named one of the top 16 is an incredible accomplishment," Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said in the state's announcement.
The full 2026 list and the program's details are posted on the Indiana Department of Education's website.
Photo credit
¹ Hero: Memorial Elementary staff with the Indiana Blue Ribbon award, Valparaiso Community Schools. ² Kingsford Heights Elementary students and staff, La Porte Community School Corporation, via WIMS (Oct. 7, 2026). ³ Kingsford Heights town sign: Chris Light / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), 2021. Resized for web; this copy is shared under the same license. ⁴ St. Paul parish school, Valparaiso, about 1910: Steve Shook collection / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0), postcard by Brooks and Brown, circa 1910, resized.
