SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Eight Bay Area schools were selected this year as National Blue Ribbon Schools, officials with the California Department of Education announced Wednesday.

All the winners in the Bay Area were selected because of high performance as measured by state assessments or national tests. The honor goes to only the highest-performing schools or schools that have closed an achievement gap.

List of winners:

  • Hillcrest Elementary in Oakland
  • Thornhill Elementary in Oakland,
  • Lafayette Elementary in San Francisco,
  • Strandwood Elementary in Pleasant Hill
  • Evergreen Elementary in San Jose
  • Sun Valley Elementary in San Rafael
  • Laurel Elementary in Atherton
  • Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School in Santa Rosa

The eight schools were among 29 winners in California and 329 winners nationwide.ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: BEST BAY AREA HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS

Fewer than 8,500 schools have received the honor in the award’s 34-year history.

Evergreen Elementary School principal Stephen Sweeney said students, teachers and staff are “over-the-moon excited” since they learned that they won. It’s the first time for the school.

“We challenge our kids and push ourselves,” Sweeney said as a reason the school won the award. “It’s a dedication to kids. It’s a team effort.”

He also said the school won because of the relationship the school has with parents, the zero tolerance school officials take toward bullying and a school program that aims to build student’s character.

Public school nominations are made by either state education officials, officials with the Department of Defense Education Activity or officials with the Bureau of Indian Education.

Officials with the Council for American Private Education nominate private schools.ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: BAY AREA UNIVERSITIES SCORE TOP HONORS

School officials will receive a plaque and a flag when their school is honored at an awards ceremony on Nov. 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C. School officials can choose to fly the flag to show that the school has been recognized for excellent teaching and learning.Bay City News contributed to this report