Suburban schools recognized with Blue Ribbon award

Fairview Elementary School Principal Judy Gurga flipped on the intercom to deliver a message that left students cheering and teachers breaking into "their little happy dance."

About 15 minutes earlier, the Hoffman Estates school was singled out by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School - one of only 22 in the state and 337 across the country.

Judges award the designation to public and private schools that meet one of two criteria: high performance on tests or closing the achievement gap.

"Our teachers look at each student by their name and their need," said Gurga, who announced the elite honor to Fairview students and faculty Tuesday afternoon. "They're willing to offer assistance before school, after school, during lunch. That's really helped with our success."

The Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 school board will celebrate the school's Blue Ribbon status at its Oct. 16 meeting. And Fairview educators are planning a campuswide assembly where students in kindergarten through sixth grade will dress in blue and join in a Falcon chant.

"This will be something I will always remember," Gurga said, "and something I'm just very proud of."

Other suburban winners include:

• Barbara B. Rose Elementary School in South Barrington

• St. Hubert Catholic School in Hoffman Estates

• Saint Mary School in Buffalo Grove

• Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights

• St. John the Evangelist School in Streamwood

• Park View Elementary in Lombard

• Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook

• Rockland Elementary School in Libertyville

• Prince of Peace Catholic School in Lake Villa

• Stella May Swartz Elementary School in Oakbrook Terrace