The National Blue Ribbon Award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Any school that wishes to be considered may apply. The application process is very lengthly and covers everything that is being done at school to address the goals of the Campus. The application is submitted to the State reviewed, and forwarded to Washington DC.

Each application is throughly evaluated. If the application is accepted, notice is given to the school that a site visitor will come to validate all aspects of the application by questioning students, parents, teachers, all school support staff, the principal, and the local school board.

The site visitor writes a report and recommends acceptance or refusal to the final committee. Schools are notified of the results by telephone; if accepted, principals and school representatives attend a reception in Washington D.C. with a White House visit. They are awarded plaques marking the occasion.

It is truly an honor to earn the National Blue Ribbon Award. Flower Mound Elementary was honored with the Award during the 1993-94 school year and has continued to maintain the same high standards of excellence ever since.

• on Wikipedia
• at the US Department of Education site