8 Wisconsin schools win national Blue Ribbon awards

Eight Wisconsin schools were among 329 recognized by U.S. Education Secretary John B. King on Wednesday as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools, one of the highest national honors for impressive achievement or improvement.

Three winners are in the greater Milwaukee metro area: Swallow Elementary in Hartland, Muskego Elementary in Muskego and Addison Elementary School in Hartford. The others: Halmstad Elementary School in Chippewa Falls, Marengo Valley Elementary in Ashland, Oconto Falls Elementary in Oconto Falls, Wilson Elementary in Beaver Dam and Woodland Elementary in Barron.

Muskego Elementary won for high achievement, but the other seven schools won for "exemplary" work closing achievement gaps between white pupils of means and other student subgroups — a key initiative of State Superintendent Tony Evers, who recommended schools for the awards.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program is in its 34th year, and awards have been given to fewer than 8,500 schools nationally, according to the U.S. Department of Education.