Kildeer School collects its Blue Ribbon

Students and staff at Kildeer Elementary School in Long Grove took their bow Tuesday, as one of 269 public and private schools in the United States honored this year with a 2012 Blue Ribbon Award.

Presented by the U.S. Department of Education for overall academic excellence,

Kildeer School is the only Northwest suburban school to be honored this year.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the recognition Sept. 7.

“Schools honored with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers,” he said. “Their work reflects the conviction that every child has promise and that education is the surest pathway to a strong, secure future.”

Kildeer School, serving children grades 1-5, earned recognition in the “high-performing” category, as measured by state assessments and nationally normed tests.

Kildeer is the fourth school in Kildeer Countryside Elementary District 96 to earn Blue Ribbon recognition, after Twin Groves Middle School (2007); Woodlawn Middle School (2009); and Ivy Hall School (2008).

Likewise, the Willow Grove Kindergarten and Early Childhood Center has earned program accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.