Lombard's Park View School wins national Blue Ribbon

Lombard Elementary District 44's Park View School is one of 337 schools across the country this fall to win a Blue Ribbon for excellence.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Park View was chosen in the overall academic excellence category, which is called Exemplary High Performing School.

"It is an honor to win the National Blue Ribbon award," Principal Roberta Wallerstedt said. "We are one of many schools that are working hard and helping students grow academically, social-emotionally and physically. Good things are happening in education today."

School board President Brooke Wozniak praised Wallerstedt for her "great leadership, collaboration with staff, and support of parents."

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called the National Blue Ribbon Schools "a national treasure" and challenged them to share their knowledge with peers in other schools and districts, "to become engines of educational innovation, galvanizing others to transform their schools as well."

Other DuPage schools that captured Blue Ribbon honors this fall are Stella May Swartz Elementary in Oakbrook Terrace, Brook Forest Elementary in Oak Brook and Oak Elementary in Hinsdale.

Those schools and other winners from across the country will be recognized in ceremonies in November in Washington, D.C.