BOARDMAN — Robinwood Lane Elementary School is among a select group of schools across the country to receive a National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for 2023.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized Robinwood Lane as one of only 353 schools nationwide. On Tuesday, there was a surprise clap-out as Robinwood students headed for their buses.

“This is a rare and distinct honor we have earned together through teamwork, talent and dedication,” Billie Jo Johnson, Robinwood principal, said. “We are very proud of our staff, our students and their families for all we’ve accomplished. It’s incredible to me that now all three of our Boardman elementary schools have been recognized and honored for this distinguished award, and it really shows how well we collaborate as a district and as a Spartan team.”

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and where applicable, graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years.

Robinwood’s award is as an Exemplary High Performing School.

On Nov. 16 and 17, Cardona and the Department of Education will celebrate with school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. They have invited Johnson and another representative of Robinwood, along with Superintendent Tim Saxton, to Washington to accept the award for Robinwood Lane.

Now in its 40th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. The program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,700 schools since its inception in 1983.