WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized 19 Pa. schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018.

Since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has identified and celebrated excellence in education and this year Ridgway Area High School has received honors as one of the recognized Pennsylvania schools.

The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

The award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Ridgway Area High School received honors due to those exemplantary qualities previously listed plus an initiative to engage students within the community.

“We strongly value the idea that those students who are involved in teams, groups and community service initiatives are those who grow habits of engagement that leads to productive citizenship,” said Ridgway Area High School educators. “We require all graduating seniors to have completed 50 hours of community service in local non-profit organizations in the Ridgway community. We hope to instill in all students a sense of service above self.”

Now in its 36th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,800 schools. On Nov. 7 and 8, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with all honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates. The first group, Exemplary High Performing Schools, are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. The second group consists of the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools, which are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.

Up to 420 schools around the nation may be nominated each year. The more than 8,500 recognized public and non-public National Blue Ribbon Schools represent all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Native tribes, territories and military bases.

The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education officials in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education.