The Charles W. Henry School in Mt. Airy has been recognized as a 2026 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse School, school officials have announced.
The designation, awarded recently by the national nonprofit Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, “is a milestone achievement that reflects the unwavering dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and families,” said school principal Kristy Len in a letter to the school community.
The Blue Ribbon program offers comprehensive school self-assessments. Len said the process began in the fall of 2025 and included surveys, …
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The Charles W. Henry School in Mt. Airy has been recognized as a 2026 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse School, school officials have announced.
The designation, awarded recently by the national nonprofit Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, “is a milestone achievement that reflects the unwavering dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and families,” said school principal Kristy Len in a letter to the school community.
The Blue Ribbon program offers comprehensive school self-assessments. Len said the process began in the fall of 2025 and included surveys, interviews and a two-day, on-site review. The K-8 school, on Carpenter Lane, “was confirmed as demonstrating excellence in all nine performance categories required for this award,” she said.
The nine categories are student focus and support; school organization and culture; challenging standards and curriculum; active teaching and learning; technology and integration; professional community; leadership and education vitality; school, family and community partnerships; and indicators of success.
“This honor is not just an award,” Len said. “It’s a five-year commitment to continuous improvement and also to sharing our expertise and practices with other schools nationwide.”
She thanked “every member of the C.W. Henry family — our dedicated teachers, supportive parents and brilliant students — for making this possible.”
