BOCA RATON, FL -- Verde Elementary school has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
It was one of four schools in South Florida to receive the honor, and the only one in Palm Beach County according to our news partners at the Sun-Sentinel.
314 schools across the country were designated as National Blue Ribbon winners this year. The award is givien to both public and private schools.
In public schools, students must achieve in the top 10 percent intheir state on tests and show adequate yearly progress in reading andmath. In private schools, students must rank in the top 10 percent onnational tests, such as the Stanford Achievement Test, CaliforniaAchievement Test or the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.
Schools also can qualify for the award if 40 percent of studentsfrom low-income homes show dramatic improvement on state or nationaltests.
Verde and the other schools will be honored in a ceremony on Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.