A local elementary school makes the grade not only in West Virginia, but across the country.

Scott Teays Elementary recently earned the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Honor. That means the Putnam County school is now one of the top schools in the U.S.

It's the only school in our region getting recognized. The Blue Ribbon Honor is based on academic performance proving that when the bar is raised, students at Scott Teays are rising to the challenge.

On a dreary Tuesday afternoon, there's a cheerfulness inside Mrs. Sowards' classroom.

As Debbie Sowards likes to say, it all begins here in kindergarten class. Part of the reason she's so pleased about Scott Teays' recent achievement is just last week the school learned it was chosen as one of the top schools in the country.

The Blue Ribbon Honor Program recognizes schools whose students score in the top 10 percent on state tests or in the top 10 on a national level. To even be considered, Scott Teays had to make a yearly progress in reading, language, arts, and mathematics. It also must have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that show a dramatic improvement on the test.

"We have a long-standing of having strong academics here at Scott Teays and the Blue Ribbon is based on the strong academics of our school," Scott Teays Elementary Principal Beth Pitzer said.

This school also gives credit where credit is due to parents and its surrounding community.

"I think a lot of our families are very concerned about our student's education and they want their child to come here," Sowards said.

"We just had the West Virginia one and it's neat we had the other one," student Olivia Hill said.

It’s a national achievement that started right in the classroom.

"They’re all talking about the blue ribbon. They want to see the Blue Ribbon and we'll get that in November," Pitzer said.

Next month, Scott Teays principal and a teacher will travel to Washington, D.C. to officially receive the Blue Ribbon Honor in an awards ceremony.

This of course sets the bar even higher for next year's students, but Principal Pitzer says her students, like always, are up for the challenge.

We mentioned earlier that two other schools in West Virginia were also honored with the Blue Ribbon. They are in Greenbrier and Wyoming counties.