DES MOINES, Iowa — Four schools have been selected as Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools for 2025.

The program named Albia Middle School from the Albia Community School District, Byrant Elementary School from the Dubuque Community School District, George-Little Rock Elementary from the George-Little Rock Community School District, and Prairie Hill Elementary School from the College Community School District as the inaugural Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools.

The schools were recognized during a ceremony involving Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education at the State Capitol on Wednesday.

“I am thrilled to recognize each of Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Schools for their hard work to earn this well-deserved honor and their dedication to helping every student succeed,” Gov. Reynolds said in a statement. “This year Iowa was excited to help lead the way in launching this prestigious program as a statewide initiative to continue to honor high-performing schools, highlighting the transformational work that takes place every day in their classrooms.”

In August, the U.S. Department of Education moved the national Blue Ribbon Schools program to the states. According to the Iowa Department of Education, while the USED would work with state education departments in prior years to administer the award, the states would identify the schools who met the requirements for the recognition. In its first year, the Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools program based their selections on the previous national program’s requirements.

To learn more about the Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools program visit the Iowa Department of Education website.