In early November, a handful of San Antonio school leaders will make their way to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the designation of Robert B. Green Elementary at Riverside Park as a Blue Ribbon school — the only campus in the city to earn the coveted designation this year. 

The school joins only 356 others across the country to earn the honor given by the U.S. Department of Education, 31 of which are in Texas. The Blue Ribbon designation is given to the highest performing schools across the nation as well as those with high levels of improvement.

Both designations are based on performance levels on tests referenced by national norms in at least the most recent year tested.

“We’re proud and very excited for the entire Green community,” Trustee Art Valdez said in a statement. “It’s a team award, and that’s the greatest part about it. I feel that this is something the community needs and deserves right now.”

On its website, the federal agency heaped praise on the school, which was named after a San Antonio native who served as a county judge and state senator. 

“Robert B. Green Elementary embodies the legacy of its namesake, a servant leader, by opening its doors to all students, particularly those most at risk,” the site reads. “The school values building relationships and fostering a sense of community in a way that ensures families feel a sense of belonging and ongoing support.”

The recognition describes the collaborative nature of the school’s staff, with teachers working together to refine their skills, “focusing on each person’s unique abilities to contribute to the collective whole.”

That was echoed by third grade teacher Isabel Cepeda, who beamed with pride as she discussed the achievement on a recent Friday afternoon. 

“As a team, we knew what our goals were, and we wanted those students to succeed and to be successful to the best of their ability,” said Cepeda, who will travel to D.C. as part of the group accepting the award. “We know they’re not all the same abilities, but to show growth, to show that progress, so that the students are motivated and encouraged and know that [they] can do better.”

That style of empowering students based on improvements promotes self-efficacy and accountability in Green Elementary’s students, according to the awarding agency, which added that “with teachers working hand in hand and students eager to improve, much of the battle for academic achievement is already won.”

The school rose from a D rating in the state’s accountability system in the 2018-2019 school year to a B in the 2021-22 school year, the most recent year the Texas Education Agency released letter grades to mark performance. The agency nominated Green and other schools for the award but notes on its website that the accountability scores are not related to the Blue Ribbon designation.  

Jalissa Garcia, a fifth grader at Green, said she was proud to be part of a school that is a model for others. 

“Everybody here really tries,” she said. “Everybody here tries, and the teachers help the students get better at what they weren’t really as good at.” 

Over the last 12 years, three other SAISD schools have earned the National Blue Ribbon distinction. 

Previous recipients include the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, which was honored in 2021 and 2015; Travis Early College High School, which was honored in 2017; and Fox Tech High School, which was recognized in 2012.

When they go to Washington, the district and school representatives will receive a plaque and flag to signify the school’s exemplary status. 

Students, teachers and parents are celebrating the award while adjusting to a new campus — after moving to the former Riverside Park Elementary School building as part of a district-wide reshuffling over the summer.

Joining Cepeda in Washington is Jennifer Soto, the school’s principal, who said she was shocked when she first learned of the honor — and is excited to represent the school and the district as a whole.

“There are a lot of schools that work really hard in our district, a lot of teachers, a lot of principals,” she said. “Sometimes you feel like they should all be recognized. It is an honor to be able to carry that torch for them.” 

Soto said the transition from one campus to the other included every member of her team, from instructional aides and teachers to administrators and custodians. 

“Which is a beautiful thing, because it really continues the success and it honors the legacy that they established at the old building,” she said. “It means that we can bring all of those great things that we did as a team, and … as a family … to this new building and extended family.” 

Green offers prekindergarten through fifth grade classes, both monolingual and dual language, according to the district, and each student at the school has their own electronic device for use both in their classroom and at home.

Superintendent Jaime Aquino, who has been working to implement district-wide changes to raise academic achievement, lauded the work of the school’s staff, calling the award “a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence and the quality education our students receive, year after year.”

“It reflects the dedication, hard work, and collective spirit of our entire community,” he added. “We are deeply invested in our students’ success, and this achievement belongs to everyone who has played a part in their journey towards excellence.”