Morning Star School, Bozeman’s largest elementary school, was named Tuesday as one of the 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools for being one of the top schools in the country and for closing students’ achievement gap.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced in Maryland that 314 schools won the Blue Ribbon award, including 264 public schools and 50 private schools. Only one other Montana school, Central School in Roundup, made this year’s list. Winners will be honored Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.

“These Blue Ribbon Schools have shown that all children can learn with appropriate supports,” Duncan said. “Some have shown dramatic improvements in places where students are overcoming the challenges of poverty, and others serve as examples of consistent excellence that can be a resource for other schools.”

Principal Nonnie Hughes, who has led Morning Star for 17 years, said the award is “just a wonderful honor for our whole school community n amazing teachers and staff, students and parents.”

“We have high expectations n we don’t settle for mediocrity,” Hughes wrote in her application. “We are a school that looks for solutions and we have the attitude of ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.’”

Special Thanks to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle for the article. Read more about this and other great schools by clicking here.