Five Arizona schools are being honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Franklin Junior High in Mesa, Gilbert Classical Academy, Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, Vista College Preparatory in Phoenix and Knox Gifted Academy in Chandler will formally receive their awards at a Washington, DC ceremony next month.
Schools are honored by the U.S. Department of Education for being high-performing, or for closing achievement gaps between students. Overall, 88-hundred schools nationwide have been recognized in the 36 years since the Blue Ribbon Schools began.