With the new academic year underway, the U.S. Department of Education on Friday announced its National Blue Ribbon School selections for 2022.

Of the 297 schools chosen nationwide from a pool of up to 420 applicants, nine New Jersey schools in eight different counties in the Garden State were recognized as "exemplary high-performing schools." A second category is reserved for schools that are considered "exemplary" in closing their achievement gaps.

According to a release from the New Jersey Department of Education, honorees are given a plaque and flag at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Federal officials said 39 cohorts have bestowed Blue Ribbon designations to more than 9,000 schools. These are the New Jersey award-holders for 2022, with links to the U.S. Department of Education's profile on each one.

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Bergen County — School #4, Cliffside Park

School #4
U.S. Department of Education
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Bergen County — Upper School, Englewood Cliffs

Upper School
U.S. Department of Education
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Camden County — Glendora Elementary School, Glendora

Glendora Elementary School
U.S. Department of Education
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Essex County — Redwood Elementary School, West Orange

Redwood Elementary School
U.S. Department of Education
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Mercer County — Stony Brook Elementary School, Pennington (Hopewell Valley Regional School District)

Stony Brook Elementary School
U.S. Department of Education
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Middlesex County — Edgar Middle School, Metuchen

Edgar Middle School
U.S. Department of Education
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Monmouth County — Frank Defino Central Elementary School, Marlboro

Frank Defino Central Elementary School
U.S. Department of Education
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Morris County — Center Grove School, Randolph

Center Grove School
U.S. Department of Education
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Union County — William J. McGinn Elementary School, Scotch Plains (Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District)

William J. McGinn Elementary School
U.S. Department of Education
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Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com

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