Olive-Mary Stitt Named 2017 National Blue Ribbon School (VIDEO)

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Olive-Mary Stitt School was named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2017 by the U.S. Department of Education, according to Arlington Heights School District 25. The federal award honors academically outstanding schools — public and private — as well as schools skilled at closing the achievement gap for low-income students. Schools can only be nominated for the award once within a five-year period.

Although a formal announcement concerning this year's Blue Ribbon schools hasn't been made, Olive-Mary Stitt and District 25 officials were informed about the award Tuesday night. To celebrate the honor, district Supt. Lori Bein surprised the staff of the Arlington Heights kindergarten-through-fifth grade school Wednesday and congratulated them on the distinction.

"There's just under 4,300 schools in the state of Illinois, and you're No. 177, which is a Blue Ribbon school. Totally elite and amazing," Bein told the faculty. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest Arlington Heights news. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The superintendent also had kind words for Principal Becky FitzPatrick.

"And I'm always so proud of Becky. She's always so professional and intelligent, but last night she was a giddy little kid," Bein said about the principal's reaction to the school's award.

School and district officials weren't the only people who received early notice about the Blue Ribbon honor. Mary Stitt, the school's namesake who served as principal for a quarter of a century, was given a heads up by state Rep. David Harris while she was working at the Northwest Community Healthcare Wellness Center.

Olive-Mary Stitt School will receive a plaque and flag during an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., later this year that honors all the country's recipients. The Arlington Heights school is the fifth District 25 school to be named a National Blue Ribbon School since the program was created in 1982.

Arlington Heights School District 25 Supt. Lori Bein congratulates the staff of Olive-Mary Stitt School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, on being named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2017. (Image from video via the Arlington Heights School District 25 | Facebook)

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