The No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon School Award, one of the nation’s top education awards, is part of a national recognition program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The program honors elementary, middle and secondary schools that are models of academic success by making significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. Regardless of the school’s demographics, each state’s nominees must demonstrate dramatically improving student performance on state assessments. The Presidio School Tucson campus was selected in 2007 from over 120,000 public, charter, and private schools as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Only four Arizona schools and 287 schools nation wide were so honored. Kristin Bannerman, deputy assistant secretary with the U.S. Department of Education cited high test scores and the school’s rigorous curriculum as the basis for the school’s selection. She further stated, “Presidio is a model for the rest of the country.” Artisan’s Presidio School and Presidio de las Sierras School are direct replications of this nationally recognized school of excellence.