State Senator Bill Weber (R-Luverne) today congratulated Red Rock Central Secondary School in Lamberton for being named one of the United States Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018. Red Rock Central Secondary was one of eight schools in Minnesota — and only 349 schools in the country — to receive the recognition, which is based on overall excellence or progress made toward closing the achievement gap.

“If there is one word that describes Red Rock Central, it’s caring,” said Senator Weber. “The staff not only care deeply about the students, but they also care about building strong relationships with parents. The students care deeply about their classmates as well as their own success, both during school and in extracurricular activities. It is hardly a surprise to see Red Rock receive national recognition when everyone is so invested in their success. Congratulations to the teachers, parents, administrators, and especially the students on this great achievement!”

Public schools nominated for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award must meet one of two performance award criteria.

• Exemplary High Performing Schools: The school must rank in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state based on results of state assessments or a composite index of assessment results and other indicators, such as graduation rates. The school must rank in the top 40 percent for each of the school’s subgroups.

• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools: The school must rank in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state in progress closing the achievement gap between the school’s subgroups and the state’s “all students” group over the last five years, based on results of state assessments or a composite index of assessment results and other indicators, such as graduation rates.

Over the last 36 years, more than 8,800 schools throughout the United States have been recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Photo: Photo of Senator Weber with Red Rock Central Superintendent Bruce Olson; Rep. Rod Hamilton, Congressman Collin Peterson; Red Rock Central Principal Phil Goetstouwers; and Student Council President Noah Pankonin at the presentation of the Blue Ribbon award for academic achievement to Red Rock Central High School.