Gate City Elementary School in Pocatello and Sugar-Salem High School in Sugar City made a national list of 286 National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2013, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today.

The U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools where students perform at very high levels or where students have made significant academic improvements.

Here are thumbnails about the Idaho winners:

Gate City is recognized as an exemplary high-performing school for continued high performance. More than 99 percent of third- to sixth-graders are proficient in reading, and 94 to 99 percent of third-graders are proficient in mathematics.

Sugar-Salem is recognized as an exemplary improving school for academic growth. Student proficiency has increased by 14 percent in reading and by 11 percent in mathematics over the past five years.

“This award is a reflection of the commitment for excellence on the part of the students, teachers, parents, and community of Sugar-Salem School District. We see this not as a capstone, but a foundation for the future of education in our community,” Principal Jared Jenks said.

A list of the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available by clicking here. National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored this year at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in October.

Both winning schools received high marks in Idaho’s most recent five-star ratings. Gate City is a five-star school, and Sugar-Salem is a four-star school.