The Haines Elementary School has been named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School, one of only three schools in Alaska and 337 in the United States to win the honor.

“Your example is a powerful inspiration to other educators,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wrote in a letter to the school, naming it an “exemplary high performing school.” “I hope that you will work with other schools to share the practices that have made your school exemplary.”

Principal Cheryl Stickler said the school was nominated for the award by the state Department of Education.

Stickler said qualifying for the award requires four consecutive years of academic excellence. On standardized tests, the school has scored in the 90th percentile in reading in elementary grades for about seven years, she said.

In 2012 the elementary school was named a Title I National Distinguished School for improving student achievement in reading. “Now we have blue-ribbon students, not just distinguished students,” Stickler told the school board Tuesday.

School board president Anne Maria Palmieri said the award reflected a “great job” by staff and students. Board member Lisa Schwartz said former superintendent and assistant principal Michael and Michelle Byer also deserved credit for working on school improvements.

According to the state Department of Education, during the past three years, over 90 percent of its Haines elementary students were proficient or advanced in language arts, and nearly 85 percent were proficient or advanced in math.

It’s the first time a Haines school has won the award, which was established in 1982. About 40 schools in Alaska have won the award.