An elementary school in James City County has been honored nationally for its academic achievements in 2017, earning a National Blue Ribbon School award.
Six public schools in Virginia were named national Blue Ribbon schools Thursday, including Stonehouse Elementary in James City County, according to a Virginia Department of Education news release.
The release said public Blue Ribbon schools are chosen based on one of two criteria: performance on state assessments, or performance in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years while increasing graduation rates for each subgroup.
Williamsburg-James City County Schools spokeswoman Betsy Overkamp-Smith said Stonehouse Elementary School was selected for being “an exemplary, high-performing school.”
Stonehouse Elementary has about 730 students and serves kindergarten through fifth grade, Overkamp-Smith said.
“We are proud of the entire Stonehouse Elementary community for earning this remarkable honor,” said Scott Thorpe, WJCC assistant superintendent for school leadership. “It is evident that the Stonehouse Elementary staff are committed toward every child realizing and reaching his/her potential. Equally as important, the school values families and the community as critical partners in its work for students.”
Stonehouse Elementary also earned the Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award earlier this year from the state department of education, the release said.
Other Virginia schools that earned the title were in Loudon, Dinwiddie, Rockbridge and Pittsylvania counties, as well as the City of Chesapeake, the release said.
“These schools show that excellence is possible regardless of the type of communities they serve,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said. “The teachers, principals, support staff and students at each school are to be congratulated for their hard work and success.”
The U.S. Department of Education will honor all 2017 Blue Ribbon schools on Nov. 6 and 7 in Washington D.C, the release said.
