Highlands Elementary Awarded Second Blue Ribbon

is officially batting 1000.

The Edina school—which was first nominated for and won a Blue Ribbon School award in 2005—has accomplished the same tremendous feat a mere six years later.

Highlands was designated a Blue Ribbon School for a second time by the U.S. Department of Education earlier this week. The award honors public and private K-12 institutions with high achievement rates or who have made progress in closing achievement gaps. The program started in 1981.

Highlands was recognized as a high performing school, meaning it ranked among the state's top performing schools on state assessments.

"This is a great honor for the staff, students and parents at Highlands to be recognized as a Blue Ribbon School,” said Principal Peter Hodne.

A total of 305 schools were selected as Blue Ribbon Schools this year, including eight from Minnesota. They will be honored during a conference and awards ceremony Nov. 14-15 in Washington, D.C.

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Their success is an example for others to follow."

Highlands staff first learned of their nomination back in January. The school, which opened back in 1956, has a student population of around 550 in grades K-5, with approximately 35 teachers and specialists.

Edina schools—both public and private—have historically fared well in the Blue Ribbon School competition, with a total of seven taking home the award over the years.

Here's a quick look at those award-winning schools:

• —1983
• —1986
• —1986
• —1993
• —2000, 2009
• —2005, 2011
• —2005