School receives state’s Blue Ribbon

Richmond Community Schools’ Charles Elementary School has been selected as a 2025 Indiana Blue Ribbon School.

According to an RCS news release, the designation celebrates schools that demonstrate exemplary academic performance and employ innovative approaches to meet all learners’ diverse needs.

Charles earned this recognition for fostering an environment where excellence is both expected and consistently achieved, the release said.

RCS Superintendent Curtis Wright said district officials are proud of the “incredible” honor, noting it reflects the educational best practices staff, students and stakeholders have put into motion over the past three years.

“While this year it is Charles Elementary being celebrated, we are confident that in time, many more RCS elementary schools will also be acknowledged as Blue Ribbon,” Wright said.

Ashley Garard, Charles’ principal, said the award reflects the entire school community’s collective efforts.

“Our dedicated teachers and staff work tirelessly to create a culture of learning that nurtures every student’s potential and prepares them for future success,” Garard said.

In 2024-25, Charles had RCS’ highest passage rate (87.7%) for Indiana Reading Evaluation And Determination test to evaluate the reading abilities of second and third graders.

Charles also led Wayne County’s individual public schools on the 2024-25 tests for grades 3-8 in English/language arts and math. Those tests are best known as ILEARN, which stands for Indiana Learning Evaluation and Readiness Network.

Charles will be formally honored at Indiana’s Educational Excellence Awards Gala on Nov. 21.

Charles was one of 11 private and public schools selected for the annual state-level recognition.

Other 2025 Indiana Blue Ribbon Schools: Batesville High, Brandywine Elementary, Creekside Middle, East Side Elementary, Immaculate Heart of Mary, South Terrace Elementary, St. John the Evangelist, St. Louis de Montfort, St. Mary’s Catholic, and St. Philip.