School of Excellence

National PTA School of Excellence recognition program opens the lines of communication and critical thinking within school communities to make data-driven decisions that yield positive, long-term results. School of Excellence is committed to supporting and recognizing partnerships between local PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.

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Start Your Journey to Excellence

Enrollment for the 2022-2023 School of Excellence program closed on Oct. 15, 2022. Those local PTAs (outlined here) that enrolled in this program cycle completed their Initial Application by Nov. 15, 2022 (Step #4) for continued participation in the program and to remain in consideration for the 2022-2024 National PTA School of Excellence designation.

Once enrolled, local PTAs will gain access to all of the tools needed to run their School of Excellence program. Local PTAs are encouraged to enroll early to start building their Excellence Teams and to familiarize themselves with the program process.

Email Excellence@PTA.org with any questions.

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National PTA is Committed to Excellence

Over 40 years of research shows increased family engagement is linked to school improvement and student achievement. By enrolling in this program, your PTA and school administrators are making a year-long commitment in identifying and implementing an action plan for school improvement based on PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and the Center for Engagement’s Four 'I's of Family Engagement.

The School of Excellence Program aims to:

Provide a framework for PTAs to identify and implement best practices in family engagement to strengthen family-school partnerships.

Build inclusive and welcoming school communities where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.

Help PTAs attract new, action-oriented PTA members who want to focus on the issues that affect our children the most.

Provide step-by-step guidance and networking opportunities for PTAs to gain support and feedback, identify and reach goals and earn recognition.

Celebrate designees and top Phoebe Apperson Hearst awardees as national leaders in building effective family-school partnerships, which opens up additional honors and opportunities.

Steps to Becoming a National PTA School of Excellence

School of Excellence Frequently Asked Questions

School of Excellence Frequently Asked Questions (en español)

Steps to Becoming a School of Excellence
Learn more about each step (en español)

Step 1. Enroll and Gain Support (June 1 – Oct. 15 - extended from Oct. 1)

Step 2. Deploy Baseline Survey (Sep. – Nov.)

Step 3. Set a Shared Objective (Sep. – Nov.)

Step 4. Complete Initial Application (Submit by Nov. 15 - extended from Nov. 1)

Step 5. Follow Roadmap to Excellence (Throughout School Year)

Step 6. Deploy Final Survey (March – June)

Step 7. Complete Final Application (Submit by June 1)

Step 8. Celebrate Your Excellence (Aug.)

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What Schools Say about the Program

The School of Excellence Program is a powerful tool that can benefit everyone. It brings to light ways that the school/PTA can improve, but it also celebrates successes. It can be a visual reminder of everything we have accomplished together as a school and PTA.

– Lee Heinerikson, Thomas B. Chinn Elementary Principal, Missouri

This program has opened up important dialogues that will positively impact our school community. In some areas it has validated our work. In some areas, it has brought things to our attention that we hadn't considered.

– Christopher Moretti, Hawley Elementary School Principal, Connecticut

The award provides an example of how the PTA, community and school have a bond and interest in ensuring that our students succeed. It's an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments while setting goals towards future challenges.

– Dr. Gregory Matlosz, Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School Principal, New Jersey

Designated Schools of Excellence

Congratulations 2021-2023 Designees!

The 2021-2023 National PTA Schools of Excellence are designated in recognition of their commitment to building an inclusive and welcoming school-community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.

Join us in celebrating these Schools of Excellence on social media with #HowWePTA and #PTAExcellence, and tag @NationalPTA.

Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award Recipients

Also, please join us in congratulating the top three Schools of Excellence and recipients of the 2022 Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award Recipients:

Country Parkway Elementary PTA (New York) - Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Family-School Partnership Award

Kingwood Middle PTA (Texas) - Phoebe Apperson Hearst Family-School Partnership Award of Merit

Riverside STEM Academy PTSA (California) - Phoebe Apperson Hearst Family-School Partnership Award of Merit

Past Schools of Excellence

You can view past Schools of Excellence from 2014-2016, 2015-2017, 2016-2018, 2017-2019, 2018-2020, 2019-2021, 2020-2022 and 2021-2023.

Review these data reports to learn more about past designees: