Stanton-Smith Elementary School in Whitehouse and Grace Community School’s elementary campus were recognized as 2017 Blue Ribbon Schools.

The schools were among just more than two dozen in the state to be nominated for the honor, according to a news release from the Department of Education on Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Education founded the Blue Ribbon Schools program in 1982 to recognize high performing public and private grade schools.

Schools nominated for the 2017 honor were selected as high performing as measured by state assessments, according to a news release from the Texas Education Agency.

Each of the schools has an economically disadvantaged population of 22 percent or more.

After the nomination, the schools then completed a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education. The schools also will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Whitehouse ISD Superintendent Chris Moran released a statement to the district’s Facebook page after the announcement:

“We are all so excited for Mr. Haskell and his staff at Stanton-Smith Elementary School for their designation as a National Blue Ribbon Campus. The teachers have been working diligently to grow their students and this recognition will validate what they have done and continue to do every day for all students on their campus. The academic achievement at Stanton-Smith Elementary reflects the high expectations in Whitehouse ISD from the Board of Trustees to the classroom.”