8 Minnesota Schools Awarded National Blue Ribbon

MINNESOTA — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Tuesday recognized 349 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018, including eight from Minnesota. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

"I'm pleased to celebrate with you as your school is named a National Blue Ribbon School," DeVos in a video message to the honorees.

"We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives. Congratulations on your students' accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs."

Now in its 36th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,800 schools.

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's student groups and all students over the past five years.

Click here to see all Blue Ribbon Winners from 1982-2018.

Here are this year's National Blue Ribbon Schools in Minnesota:

• Wayzata Central Middle School, Plymouth
  
• School of Engineering and Arts, Golden Valley
• Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Elementary School, Hector
• Canby Elementary School, Canby
• Fertile-Beltrami Elementary School, Fertile
• Maple River East Elementary School, Minnesota Lake
• Red Rock Central Secondary School, Lamberton
• Vandyke Elementary School, Coleraine

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