What is A Blue Ribbon School

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Lewiston school wins Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education

By Kerri Sandaine of the Tribune

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Recognized for dramatically improving student performance, Webster Elementary School in Lewiston received the 2009 Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Webster and Camas County Elementary-Junior High School in Fairfield were the only Idaho schools selected for the award.

"I'm just proud to be associated with Webster," Principal Craig Lenzmeier said. "The staff, students, parents and volunteers work very hard, and I think they are very deserving of the award. It shows what can happen when people work together."

This is the first time a Lewiston school has received the national honor, and Webster Elementary is one of only 17 schools in the state to become a Blue Ribbon School since the inception of the program in 1982.

The Blue Ribbon Award honors public and private schools that are academically superior or have made dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close gaps in achievement among minority and disadvantaged students.

To earn the award, Webster students had to score in the top 10 percent statewide on the Idaho Standards Achievement Test and at least 40 percent of the school's students from disadvantaged backgrounds had to demonstrate dramatic improvement of student performance on the ISAT. In addition, the school had to meet Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and math.

The two Idaho schools were among 314 selected. They will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in November.

Lenzmeier said everyone at the school is excited about the award.

"Webster is a great school to work at," he said Tuesday afternoon, "and one example of the great education kids receive in the Lewiston School District."

In Washington, four schools were named as Blue Ribbon award winners, including Colbert Elementary School in Spokane's Mead School District, Columbia High and Elementary School in Hunters, Klickitat Elementary and High School and Naselle Junior Senior High School.