More than a dozen Tri-State Area (South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota) schools have been recognized for being among the best in the nation.

The U.S. Department of Education has included the 17 regional schools on the 2023 list of National Blue Ribbon Schools.

The award is given to schools for academic performance or for their progress in closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students.

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2023 SOUTH DAKOTA BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

  • Bridgewater-Emery Elementary, Bridgewater-Emery School District
  • Fred Assam Elementary, Brandon Valley School District
  • Castlewood High School, Castlewood School District

2023 IOWA BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

  • East Elementary School, Sheldon Community School District
  • Grundy Center Middle School, Grundy Center Community School District
  • Norman Borlaug Elementary School, Iowa City Community School District
  • Perry Elementary School, Perry Community School District
  • St. Ansgar High School, St. Ansgar Community School District

2023 MINNESOTA BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

  • Chanhassen Elementary School, Eastern Carver County School District
  • Countryside Elementary School, Edina Public School District
  • Folwell Elementary School, Rochester Public School District
  • Holy Family Catholic High School, Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul
  • Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Elementary, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial School District
  • Nova Classical Academy Upper School, Nova Classical Academy Charter School District
  • Oak Point Elementary School, Eden Prairie Public School District
  • Stephens-Argyle Elementary School, Stephen-Argyle Central School District
  • Wayzata East Middle School, Wayzata Public School District

In all, 353 schools have been selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023.

The awards were first handed out in 1982.

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