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Welcome School of Excellence Champions!

This resource hub is designed to help district, council, region, and state PTAs promote and support the National PTA School of Excellence program. Through this year-long initiative, local PTAs work to strengthen family-school partnerships by creating action plans informed by community feedback and aligned with PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

Your role is essential—D/C/R, state and community PTAs serve as motivators, guides, and champions for participating schools. On this page, use the Message Board for timely updates from National PTA, and explore the Guide to Supporting Excellence for tools, tips, and ideas to help local PTAs succeed.

Message Board

 

Check out the latest updates, reminders, and useful information to learn what's currently happening in the program and how you can support participating units in your community.

2025-2026 School of Excellence Program

Program Now Closed
Enrollment and the first program requirements for the 2025-2026 program is closed. You can find which PTAs from your state are still active in the program here.

Take Action 

Provide encouragement and assistance throughout the program by understanding the program steps and requirements. For more tips, ideas and materials, see Navigate the Program Together in the below Guide to Supporting Excellence.

2024-2025 School of Excellence Program

Congratulations 2024-2026 National PTA School of Excellence designees!

National PTA proudly recognizes 330 PTAs and schools that earned the prestigious 2-year School of Excellence designation for the 2024-2025 school year. Explore the full roster of PTAs that successfully completed the program, demonstrating outstanding commitment to strengthening family-school partnerships.

A special congratulations goes to the top three Schools of Excellence, honored with the 2025 Phoebe Apperson Hearst Awards—our highest recognition for achievements in family engagement and impact. Their work shows what’s possible when families and schools unite to support student success.

Take Action

Continue to support these PTAs by celebrating their accomplishment. Download the Designation Promotion Toolkit to spread the word and use the Guide to Supporting Excellence celebration section to find ideas, tips and tools to help you recognize the designees in your state.

Guide to Supporting Excellence

 

District, council, region and state PTAs play a critical role in supporting the School of Excellence program by acting as encouragement, guides and supports to participating local PTAs. You know your state and communities best and can best share suggestions and opportunities with participants that will further their family engagement goals. 

Using the Guide

The information and resources in this Guide aid in promoting, training, supporting and celebrating local PTAs in enhancing family-school partnerships. Below, see what each section has to offer, then click the link to go directly to the information you need:

    • Promote Enrollment provides tips, templates and messaging to help engage even more PTAs in the program 
    • Support PTAs provides program details, tools and ideas to help you better understand the program so you can support local PTAs in earning the designation.
    • Celebrate Excellence provides sample graphics, messaging and inspiration to recognize the designees in your state
    • Excellence Data Bank provides historical reports of past designees and data reports highlighting the program's impact. 
    We're Here for You!

    Need help finding information or exploring new ways to support your local PTAs? National PTA has your back. Whether you're navigating next steps or brainstorming new ideas, we're here to support you—because together, we make the greatest impact.

    Questions? For program details, reports, or state-specific info, reach out to us anytime at Excellence@PTA.org.

     

    Promote Program Enrollment

     

    Enrollment is open from May 1 to October 15. You can help local PTAs in your community create transformative family engagement and foster long-term school improvements by connecting them to the School of Excellence program.

    Help PTAs Start Strong

    Enrolling in the School of Excellence program is simple, but helpful hints can go a long way towards PTAs finding success in the program. When promoting enrollment, encourage PTAs to consider the following:
    Participation Info

    Verify eligibility. The program is designed for individual and local PTA units to make a direct impact at their schools. The designation should not be sought by multiple schools under one PTA.

    Review the enrollment form. See what information is required on the form so you can help local PTAs that reach out with questions. View this sample Enrollment Form (en español).

    Start early. Encourage local PTAs to enroll early so they can incorporate they program into their existing PTA plans and have more time to learn more about the program and requirements. 

    Bookmark the Excellence Toolkit. This hidden webpage is the go-to resource for each cohort. Access is provided in the confirmation email after enrollment. Bookmarking ensures quick, ongoing access.

    Communication Info

    Make sure our emails reach them. Ask participants to check that emails from Excellence@PTA.org don’t go to spam or junk folders. This is our main way of sharing updates, especially through the Excellence Newsletters.

    Provide accurate contact info. Make sure PTAs enter the correct contact details when enrolling—and include any additional team members who should stay informed. Change can be made by request sent to Excellence@PTA.org. 

    Connect with National PTA. For questions or help, PTAs can email Excellence@PTA.org anytime. We are here to help answer questions, brainstorm ideas and chat through hurdles. 

    Tools to Promote Program Enrollment

    Enrollment is open from May 1 to October 15 and National PTA provides an enrollment promotional toolkit with sample language and graphics that you can incorporate into your PTA newsletters and social media schedule.

    Along with the Toolkit, make use of the many other tools and resources National PTA provides to highlight the impact of the program:
    Download and Inform

    Use these resources at your state conventions or in newsletters to help PTAs learn about the program steps, requirements and benefits.

    Program Overviews

    Download and Share

    Share these graphics to encourage local PTAs to enroll and begin their journey to Excellence! Don't forget to share with National PTA using #PTAExcellence.

    Enrollment Graphics

    Program General Graphics

    Download and Highlight
    Browse these program quote graphics and share them on social media or other digital platforms to promote the School of Excellence program.
    SOE-Quotes_Mike-Miller SOE-Quotes_Kaiserslautern SOE-Quotes_Highland SOE-Quotes_Parkland SOE-Quotes_Morgan SOE-Quotes_Norup SOE-Quotes_Phillips SOE-Quotes_Lutz SOE-Quotes_Herndon SOE-Quotes_Farmington-STEAM SOE-Quotes_George-Washington SOE-Quotes_Falling-Creek SOE-Quote_Chickahominy-Middle SOE-Quote_CC-Duff SOE-Quote_Brookview SOE-Quote_Barksdale

     

    Navigate the Program Together

     

    Provide encouragement and assistance throughout the program by understanding the program steps and requirements, connecting with local units active in the program and offering training or mentorship to support their program goals.

    Start With the Program Steps

    Through the program, PTAs complete several steps designed to help build an inclusive and welcoming school community. There are specific requirements and materials relevant to each of the Program Steps.

    1. Enroll and Get Started
    2. Gather and Analyze Community Feedback 
    3. Build an Excellence Action Plan and Check Back with your Community
    4. Reflect On and Summarize Progress 
    5. Celebrate Your Excellence

    By completing these steps, PTAs gain hands-on experience with best practices like using community input to guide decisions, setting clear goals, and tracking meaningful progress.

    Program Checklist
    Keep PTAs on track by using the Program Step Checklist (en español) to your guide. It outlines every step and requirement, and since participants use it too, it’s a great tool for offering consistent, informed support.

    Need to Know Requirements

     
    To best provide this support, it will be helpful to understand the program and helpful details like requirements, deadlines and eligibility. 
    Know the Designation Details

    Here’s what you need to know about earning and maintaining the School of Excellence designation:

    • PTAs that complete Steps 1–4, meet all requirements, and remain in good standing earn the designation.
    • Designees are announced each August.
    • The designation lasts for two academic years, including the year of enrollment.
    • There are no formal requirements in year two, but PTAs are encouraged to reenroll and continue their action plans.
    • Reenrollment is flexible—many PTAs reenroll annually to maintain momentum.
    Know the Program Requirements

    To complete the program, PTAs must complete and verify the following:

    • Fall Feedback Collection when PTAs must use the exact survey or discussion questions provided by National PTA to gather community feedback. These questions align with PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. PTAs must verify they used the required questions and submitted feedback by Dec. 15.

    • Create and Implement an Excellence Action Plan using the fall feedback, National Standards and Program Focus Areas to develop and begin implementing an action plan for school improvements 

    • Spring Feedback Collection when PTAs reuse the same questions from the fall to gather comparative feedback and assess progress. PTAs must verify they used the required questions and submit an overview of their Action Plan and program outcomes.

    Get Connected

    Use the 2025-26 Enrollment Report to see which local PTAs in your community are participating in the program. These PTAs are completing a year-long, data-driven effort to strengthen their school communities. Reach out to learn their insights on:

    • What families want from PTAs
    • Successful programs and focus areas
    • Opportunities to improve family engagement
    • Trends in parent-school communication
    Please share with National PTA how you connect and welcome program participants by emailing Excellence@PTA.org.
     
    Next Steps
    For contact details to connect with program leaders directly, email Excellence@PTA.org and request a contact list.
    Kick Off the Journey with a Warm Welcome

    Help new enrollees feel supported and excited as they begin their School of Excellence journey! A warm welcome can set the tone for a successful year of family-school partnership work. Here are a few ways to get started:

    • Send a welcome message to participating PTAs or schools to acknowledge their commitment and build early connection.
    • Encourage early engagement by sharing tips, timelines, or simply linking to the Program Checklist to help PTAs stay on track.

    Guide, Encourage, and Empower Your Participants

    Through the program, participating PTAs will gather community feedback, analyze the results and develop an Excellence Action Plan to enhance and improve family engagement in their community.

    You can support PTAs in completing each of these program requirements, providing reminders, training or just encouragement along the way. Here are a few ideas to inspire your support:

     

    • Host program trainings. Provide live or recorded opportunities, like South Carolina PTA, for participants to learn, connect and engage with the program and each other.
    • Encourage collaboration among PTAs by creating group chats, forums, or mentorship connections. Tap into your network of School of Excellence alumni to connect new participants with experience alumni, like Free State PTA.
    • Use the Excellence Library along the way. National PTA regularly updates the Library and Message Board with program updates, key dates, and tools to help you support your PTAs throughout the year.
    • Send check-in messages or create a shared calendar to offer encouragement and remind PTAs of upcoming milestones or deadlines.
    • Share success stories or spotlights from other PTAs to inspire and motivate participants.
    • Celebrate small wins and acknowledge progress at each step to keep PTAs engaged and energized.
    Know the Program Timeline

    Mark your calendars with these key program dates to send our reminders or encouragement. 

    • May 1 - Oct. 15: Program Enrollment 

    • August - Nov. 15: Initial Community Feedback Collection 

    • Oct. 1 - Dec. 15: Complete and Submit Community Feedback Form

    • November - May: Create and Implement Excellence Action Plan

    • March - June: Follow Up Community Feedback Collection

    • May 1 - June 15: Complete and Submit Community Impact Form 

    • August: School of Excellence Designees and Hearst Award Recipients Announced

     

    Celebrate Excellence Together

     

    Be sure to congratulate your the National PTA School of Excellence designees and share their stories on your social media outlets. You are encouraged to reach out to your state's designees to join and support their celebration events. 

    Please share with National PTA how you celebrate the Schools of Excellence in your community. Email ideas to Excellence@PTA.org.  

    Spread the Word

    Customize the sample messages from our Designation Promotion Toolkit to enhance upcoming PTA promotions, newsletters and meetings with stories and recognition for the 2024-2026 designees. Include #PTAExcellence on your PTA social media to share your celebration with National PTA!

    Customize this template Press Release to share the news with media outlets in your community and check out these announcements state, district and council PTAs made for new ways you can celebrate the local PTA designees in your community:


    Designation Graphics and Media

    Use these graphics to expand your celebrations and to highlight the designees in your state:

    Honor Excellence, Fuel Engagement

    Celebrate the designated PTAs in your community by sharing their success and highlighting their stories. You can turn recognition into impact by using the excitement to inspire others, grow membership, develop leaders, and expand the impact of family engagement.
    Use the designation to show PTA value and grow membership. 

    Reach out to your state’s designees and gather their success stories. Share these examples of impact with your PTA network to highlight the value of PTA and attract new members who are passionate about family engagement. Encourage designees to use the YOU Belong in PTA — Grow Your PTA with Programs templates to promote their work and invite others to join.

    Develop and support new PTA leaders. 
    The Excellence Teams that earned the designation are full of eager and hardworking volunteers who have already demonstrated a commitment to transformative family engagement. Build on their success by offering training and mentorship opportunities, and invite them to join Thrive PTA, National PTA's online learning community for leadership development. 
    Extend the impact of the National Standards.

    Your local PTA designees worked hard to transform family engagement through PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. Use your designees’ success to partner with your district or state board and push for broader adoption of PTA’s National Standards in your community. To get started, download our ready-to-use model policy for school boards (also en español).

    Purchase and distribute School of Excellence celebration materials. 
    Visit ShopPTA.com to order banners, lanyards, lapel pins, and more—most most items ship within a week. Choose from three cost-saving bundles to celebrate your designees and spotlight their success in your community.

     

    Explore Excellence Data 

     

    Still want to learn more? Check out these additional School of Excellence highlights to learn more about the the impact the School of Excellence program and get inspired to support the units in your PTA community.

    Highlight Program Impact and Benefits

    Showcase the powerful outcomes of the School of Excellence program by sharing real data and authentic voices. Use program impact reports, testimonials from past participants and principals, and membership growth to demonstrate how the program strengthens family-school partnerships, drives school improvement, and builds stronger PTA communities.

    These stories and statistics not only validate the program’s success but also inspire others to get involved and see the value of becoming a School of Excellence.

    Excellence Database
    The School of Excellence Database outlines all +1,500 past designees starting in 2014. Explore the reach of the program or dive into your state's designation data to understand the impact of the program in your state. 
    Past Schools of Excellence

    Explore past School of Excellence Designee rosters from 

    School of Excellence Reports

    Use these reports to get connected with past and present School of Excellence participants and designees. 

    Comparative Reports Overtime 
    Combined Past Excellence Reports*

    *Includes the PTAs that submitted required program forms throughout the program.
    **2019-2020 program postponed due to COVID-19. Questions? Email Excellence@PTA.org 

    Program Data Reports

    Use the School of Excellence data reports to help share and inform about the impact of the School of Excellence program Learn information like number of students served and percent of Title I schools served, and find testimonials and program impact quotes. 

     
    Program Quotes

    Hear first-hand from past participants how the School of Excellence program benefited their community, helped Principals connect with their school and supports PTAs in increasing membership.  


    Excellence in the News

    Check out some of the news coverage part and current School of Excellence designees receive!

    • Keller Jr. High PTA 2021 Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Family-School Partnership Awardee
    Excellence Program Blogs

    The School of Excellence experience is different for every PTA. Check out some of the experiences designees and participants have had in their journeys to Excellence!