U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently announced two Indian Prairie School District 204 schools as National Blue Ribbon winners, according to a District 204 press release. 

Fry Elementary School and White Eagle Elementary School, were selected as exemplary, high performing Blue Ribbon Schools along with 267 schools across the country. Schools were selected based on their overall academic excellence or for making progress in improving student academic achievement levels.  

District 204 Superintendent Kathy Birkett said the award shows how committed the teachers and students are to achieving success. 

"Our schools have students who strive to do their best, dedicated teachers who are committed to their students, and parents who partner with us to support their children," Birkett said in the press release. "It's an honor for any one school to receive this award, and a complete joy for two of our schools to be named in the same year." 

District 204 now has a total of four National Blue Ribbon Schools including Crone Middle School and Gregory Middle School. 

The U.S. Department of Education will honor approximately 219 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on Nov. 12 and 13 in Washington, D.C., according to the press release. 

A list of the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.