Coast schools receive Blue Ribbon awards in DC

WASHINGTON, DC (WLOX) - Four Mississippi schools, including three from the Gulf Coast, received their National Blue Ribbon Awards in Washington D.C. Tuesday.

The United States Department of Education awards the coveted title based on academic excellence. This year, only 286 schools across the country are able to say they are a National Blue Ribbon school.

Those in Mississippi include:

East Hancock Elementary School – Hancock County School District
DeLisle Elementary School – Pass Christian School District
Oak Park Elementary School – Ocean Springs School District
Lovett Elementary School – Clinton Public School District

The entire event was a celebration with disco music playing as the awards were handed out, and some recipients even dancing on to the stage. East Hancock Elementary Principal Tara Ladner and Lead Teacher Nancy Clark marked their blue ribbon status by wearing blue feather boas as they accepted their school's plaque.

Copyright 2013 WLOX. All rights reserved.