Blunt Elementary identified as Blue Ribbon School

Blunt Elementary recently was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School. Principal Kathryn Hirchert and special education teacher Stacey Widboom traveled to Washington, D.C., Nov. 12-13, for a two-day award ceremony.

Blunt Elementary was one of 287 schools in the United States recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 2007 Blue Ribbon Schools. In announcing the schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said: “These schools are proving that when we raise the bar our children will rise to the challenge. It takes a lot of hard work by teachers and students to become a Blue Ribbon school, and it’s a privilege to celebrate their great efforts.”

The USDOE selects Blue Ribbon Schools based on one of two criteria: 1) Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; and 2) Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the case of private schools in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally-normed tests.

Blunt Elementary is part of the Agar-Blunt-Onida School District.