NORFOLK, Neb. -- A northeast Nebraska school celebrated winning a national honor on Thursday.

Several local and state dignitaries were in attendance as Westside Elementary in Norfolk received the award for being honored as a national Blue Ribbon school for 2022.

It was one of five Nebraska schools chosen.

Among those in attendance was Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley. 

“Congratulations to the teachers, staff, and students of Westside Elementary School on being named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School," Norfolk Public Schools superintendent Dr. Jami Jo Thompson said. "We are very proud to celebrate their recognition as a top performing school in the nation.”

Norfolk Public Schools learned that it had received the honor in September.

The recognition is bestowed upon schools considered “Exemplary High Performing” by national standards. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced that 297 schools would become Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022.

This is the third time Westside has been recognized nationally recognition. In 2015 and 2019 they were the recipients of an ESEA (Title I) Distinguished School Award.

 

“Westside Elementary is an amazing place to be. I can’t say enough about our tremendous, hardworking staff," Principal Tracy Lichty said. "I am extremely proud of them, and they deserve full credit for this honor. We are also incredibly blessed to have families that are very supportive of our staff, students, and overall school community. Finally, we have wonderful district leadership and a school board that continuously provides us with the tools we need to succeed.”