Larson Elementary celebrates national award with cake

Annie Bill, principal at Larson Elementary School, called Friday to share the news that her school had won a pretty prestigious national award. Bill, who had just returned from Washington D.C. to pick up the honor in person, said Larson was recognized as a “No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.”

That’s a mouthful, but what it means is that Larson, because of high scores on national tests, was nominated as a “Blue Ribbon” school four years ago. But then the real work began, Bill said.

“We had to maintain and continue to do good in the three years since,” Bill said.

Their test scores stayed up and this week Larson became one of 314 schools in the country – out of 120,000 – to receive the national award.

Bill said the school is celebrating its achievement Tuesday evening at 6:45 p.m. A representative from the U.S. Department of Education will be on hand to speak, she said, and the school is welcoming current and past students, staff and families to attend. A cake and coffee reception will follow.