Forest Hills Elementary School students hold up flags and sing their school's song during the "Blue Ribbon Bash" on Nov. 5, 2025. Photo by Maddie Robinson
Students and staff of Forest Hills Elementary School, decked out in blue and waving flags, celebrated being named a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School, an honor recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), with a “Blue Ribbon Bash” ceremony on Wednesday.
The National Blue Ribbon School Award is an annual award given to schools that demonstrate outstanding student achievement or significant progress when closing educational gaps between student groups.
Forest Hills was awarded the National Blue Ribbon Award under both categories:
“Exemplary High Performing” (HP) School: Given to schools that are among the highest academically performing in their state.
“Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing” (GAP) School: Given to schools that have made significant progress toward closing gaps in school performance between subgroups of students and the schoolwide average.
Principal Joel Knorr announced Forest Hills’ Blue Ribbon School recognition via email in late October. While the Blue Ribbon program was discontinued by the U.S. Department of Education at the end of August 2025, Knorr’s email said Forest Hills’ application and selection were completed before the end of the program and that MDE would continue to honor schools that won the award.
“This is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the outstanding work our students and staff do each and every day,” Knorr said in the email.
Forest Hills was one of seven schools in Minnesota to earn the Blue Ribbon honor this year. It also marks Eden Prairie Schools’ second Blue Ribbon distinction in three years after Oak Point Elementary School earned the award in 2023.
The “Blue Ribbon Bash” ceremony was filled with speakers, including Superintendent Josh Swanson, Knorr and Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Felicia Thames, who started her career at Forest Hills. Second-grade teacher Jessica Cozza and fourth-grade teacher Amber Amundson also spoke, along with Forest Hills students Omar Warsame and Helen Walker.
“Everybody in this room, boys and girls, when you look around, all contributed to this, but most especially, each and every one of you contributed to this achievement of this award,” Knorr said at the beginning of the celebration.
Felicia Thames, the assistant superintendent of elementary education for Eden Prairie Schools, speaks at the “Blue Ribbon Bash” at Forest Hills Elementary School on Nov. 5, 2025. Photo by Maddie Robinson
Several local and state leaders attended the ceremony, including State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-49, Eden Prairie); State Rep. Alex Falconer (DFL-49A, Eden Prairie); Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case; and members of the Eden Prairie School Board, including Director Kim Ross and Chair Aaron Casper.
Other state and national officials, including Minnesota Education Commissioner Willie Jett and U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison, sent in prerecorded videos congratulating the school on the award.
Additionally, Patrick Kelliher, an outreach director with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL-Minnesota), read a letter on behalf of Klobuchar that commended the students’ hard work and recognized Forest Hills teachers and staff.
“To the Forest Hills teachers and staff, thank you for the important work you do every day to demonstrate what is possible when a committed community supports the success of students and creates vibrant and innovative learning and teaching cultures,” Kelliher read from the letter.
The highlight of the ceremony was the raising of the National Blue Ribbon School banner, which is now displayed in the front entryway of the school.
Forest Hills Elementary School Principal Joel Knorr speaks to students after the National Blue Ribbon School banner was raised in the entryway commons on Nov. 5, 2025. Photo by Maddie Robinson
The ceremony aptly ended with students and staff waving their Blue Ribbon flags and singing the Forest Hills School Song.
“Blue Ribbon represents years of hard work, countless hours of dedication, an entire community coming together with a shared commitment to excellence,” Thames said. “Forest Hills, you are Blue Ribbon proud, and so are we.”