The U.S. Department of Education award, which honors schools that help students achieve at very high levels and succeed at narrowing learning gaps between underprivileged children and their more advantaged peers, was given to only 287 schools nationwide.

"It’s been rated exemplary for at least five years," Dr. Maroba Zoeller, the Allen ISD executive director of accountability, told the Dallas Morning News. "I think it's the consistency of high performance that made the school stand out."

Montgomery Farm is a longtime supporter of Norton Elementary, having worked closely with the school to developed environmentally based programs for students.

Joining Norton as recipients of the Blue Ribbon award were:

Highland Park High School, Highland Park

Amelia Earhart Elementary School, Dallas

Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, Dallas

Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence, Garland

C.T. Eddins Elementary School, McKinney

W.H.L. Wells Elementary, Plano

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School, Plano

More information is available at http://www.ssotx.com/ or http://www.montgomeryfarm.com/.

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