For the City Times

STEVENS POINT – Bannach Elementary held a school-wide celebration complete with local officials to celebrate earning the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award. This designation affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

Bannach Elementary was honored based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School. This designation means they are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all student over the past five years.

“We have built an amazing team and culture in our school community,” said Jessica Champion, Bannach Elementary principal. “We work hard as a team to ensure that all students have access to learning and that students are making consistent academic progress and growth each year.”

The school is one of just eight across the state to earn the designation. More information on the National Blue Ribbon School program is available at http://www.ed.gov.nationalblueribbonschools.