Atheneum Program Earns Prestigious Blue Ribbon Designation

For the first time, an Inver Grove Heights program has taken home a prestigious Blue Ribbon School award.

The Atheneum Gifted Magnet Program, housed in , was among the 305 schools honored this fall by the U.S. Department of Education. The award honors public and private K-12 institutions with high achievement rates or those who have made progress in closing achievement gaps.

The Atheneum, which includes second- through fifth-grade students, was recognized as a high-performing school. High performing schools are ranked based on their performance on statewide assessments.

A total of 305 schools were selected as Blue Ribbon Schools this year, including eight from Minnesota. They will be honored during a conference and awards ceremony Nov. 14-15 in Washington, D.C. Since 1982, when the awards were first given, more than 6,500 schools have received a Blue Ribbon designation.

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers,"  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wrote in a press release. "Their success is an example for others to follow."