Altoona school named National Blue Ribbon School

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — Altoona Intermediate School in the School District of Altoona was among eight schools honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School.

The recognition, announced Thursday by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“Congratulations to this year’s National Blue Ribbon School awardees,” said DeVos. “It’s a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students’ needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years.