2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools recognizes three in east metro

The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that three east metro schools will be recognized as 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

In total, eight Minnesota schools will be receiving the honor this year.

Each of the winning east metro schools was nominated for efforts to close the achievement gap. They are:

• Highland Elementary in Apple Valley. It uses conscious discipline curriculum designed to create a positive school climate that helps students develop strong emotional and social skills. Highland was also honored as a Blue Ribbon School in 1991.
• Centennial Elementary in Circle Pines. It runs a program created in 2016 called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support that includes parents, teachers, administrators and other support staff that promote respect, responsibility and safety.
• Grey Cloud Elementary in Cottage Grove. It operates a program called SOAR that encourages students and faculty to be Safe, Organized, Accountable and Respectful through constant recognition of its values and a schoolwide rewards program.

Other Minnesota winners include: Houston Elementary, Jefferson Elementary in Mankato, Northside Elementary in St. James, Richmond Elementary and Sunset Hill Elementary in Plymouth.

The award recognizes schools that perform highly on state, national standardized tests and schools that were the most successful at closing achievement gaps between students. There were 367 schools recognized nationally.

The awards ceremony will be held virtually on Nov. 12-13.