DUNLAP, Ill. (25 News) – A local grade school is one of 18 in the state to win a national award.
Banner Elementary School in Dunlap is a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon award.
It’s a designation that recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
The school was nominated in the “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools” category.
Congressman Darin LaHood was on hand to present the award.
“We did not seek out this award, they sought us out because they recognized some special qualities about our school,” said principal Greg Fairchild. “And when we filled out the paperwork, it made us look deep inside at what we really do here.”
Banner serves nearly 350 K-5 students.
Fairchild gets the honor of picking up the award in Washington D.C. next week.
