List: 18 Illinois schools win National Blue Ribbon award

(WTVO) — A total of 365 schools in the nation were recognized as blue ribbon schools on Monday, with 18 of them being in Illinois.

The award recognizes schools every year that exceed in academics and close some achievement gaps among student groups, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The department determines how schools are exceeding by looking at performance data including assessment results, students subgroup performance and graduation rates, according to NBC .

The award comes with a blue flag that can be seen in a school’s entryway or on a flagpole.

Here are the 18 Illinois schools that received the honor of being a blue ribbon school:

• Arlington Heights – John Hersey High School
• Arlington Heights – St. Viator High School
• Chicago – Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy
• Chicago – St. Josaphat School
• Dunlap – Dunlap Middle School
• Elmhurst – Jefferson Elementary School
• Frankfort – Hickory Creek Middle School
• Geneva – Heartland Elementary School
• Green Oaks – Oak Grove School
• Hawthorn Woods – Lake Zurich Middle School
• Hickory Hills – H. H. Conrady Junior High School
• Lake Zurich – Lake Zurich High School
• Maryville – Maryville Elementary School
• Mascoutah – Mascoutah Elementary School
• Naperville – Naperville Central High School
• Naperville – Neuqua Valley High School
• Naperville – Scott Elementary School
• Palos Heights – Palos East Elementary School

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