Blanchard Elementary named a Gold Star School

Faculty and students at Barbara Blanchard Elementary School recently celebrated being among eight Gold Star Schools selected by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The department officially announced the winners of this year's Gold Star Schools last week.

The program recognizes schools that perform at high academic levels, and Blanchard was among three elementary schools selected.

"It's just so gratifying," principal Barbara Kohlfeld said of the recognition. "We have children who are just so amazing and extremely well behaved. And the staff is amazing -- second to none."

The program was established by the department in 1991 and aligns with the national Blue Ribbon Schools program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

Blanchard recently applied to become a Blue Ribbon School, and Kohlfeld said a decision on that will be announced in September.