A National Blue Ribbon School is a school in the United States that has been recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, a United States Department of Education award program that recognizes exemplary public and non-public schools on a yearly basis. The program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for administering the program, which is supported through ongoing collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Association for Middle Level Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Both public and non-public schools are eligible for nomination for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award, including charter, magnet, and Title I schools. The schools range in size, geographic locale (urban, suburban, and rural), and type. Since the programs founding in 1982, the award has been presented to more than 9,000 schools, representing the full diversity of American schools.

The National Blue Ribbon School award acknowledges and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for—and attaining—exemplary achievement. The award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Each school receives an engraved plaque and program flag with the official seal signifying its status and the year of its recognition. The schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation, and personnel are often sought out as mentors. Successful applications, posted on the National Blue Ribbon Schools website, detail key elements of successful schools, from individualized student supports, intentional instruction, collaborative cultures, and targeted curricula.