COLUMBUS, Neb. — St. Isidore School in Columbus, Northeast Nebraska, has been awarded the National Blue Ribbon for its outstanding academic performance during the 2024-2025 school year.

The Blue Ribbon is awarded to schools that demonstrate overall academic excellence and innovative educational practices.

St. Isidore is one of only seven schools in Nebraska to receive the honor this year, marking a historic first for the school.

Achieving this award involves an intensive application process for both public and private schools, where excellence in key areas must be evident.

“They're going to show academic growth from lowest achieving and then showing the growth to be a high achieving school,” said Vickie Kauffold, superintendent of Archdiocese of Omaha schools. “The school also has to show their strategic plan and what are the goals for the school and how they're continuing to grow and to meet all of the goals that they've set for themselves in the academics as well as the facilities and the operations.”

St. Isidore's success is particularly notable, considering it competed against 1,200 schools.

Nebraska Commissioner of Education Brian Maher noted the challenges in maintaining the program, “The Federal Department of Education did away with this program. So, it was really up to the State Department to pick it up and see it through to its conclusion for this year. So, I’m really proud of those tried, and those who achieved.”