(KTNC)-- The Johnson-Brock School District is being honored by the U.S. Department of Education. The district learned this week that the Johnson-Brock Elementary school is one of four schools in Nebraska to be named a National Blue Ribbon School this year.

Superintendent Jeff Koehler says they are one of 287 public and 50 private schools nationwide to be recognized this year.

The Blue Ribbon Award recognizes schools based on two criteria, on student scores on standardized tests and schools that close achievement gaps. Koehler says the Johnson-Brock Elementary School is being recognized for student scores on Nebraska state assessments last year.

Koehler says the State Department of Education nominated them for the award based on the results of the state assessments, and they also filled out a lengthy application. Koehler says the award is a recognition of the work of the district's teachers and students. He says it's good that others recognize the effort of teachers and students in the classroom.

The Johnson-Brock Elementary School will be recognized with the other Blue Ribbon recipients during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in November and Koehler says they'll have a ceremony at the school at some point to celebrate the award. 

The other Nebraska schools to win Blue Ribbon Awards this year are: Carriage Hill Elementary in Papillion, Randolph Elementary School in Randolph, and Seedling Mile Elementary School in Grand Island.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has been in existence for 32-years, and just under 7,900 schools across the United States that have been recognized in that time.