TOPSHAM

Williams-Cone Elementary School is one of three Maine elementary schools nominated as 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the state Department of Education.

According to a news release from the department issued Wednesday, the Topsham school, which is part of School Administrative District 75, joins Longfellow Elementary School in Portland and Yarmouth Elementary School in being nominated.

Each of the schools have student achievement in the top 15 percent in Maine for reading and math, the education department said.

The nomination by Maine’s education commissioner allows the schools to submit a formal application to win the recognition nationally.

Schools honored through the National Blue Ribbon Schools program are nominated by their state education commissioner, then apply to the U.S. Department of Education for the honor.

The U.S. Department of Education will announce awardees in September 2013.

SAD 75 Superintendent Brad Smith said the district was not part of the nomination process and was notified of the nomination a couple days ago.

He has talked with Williams- Cone Elementary School Principal Randa Rineer about next steps and wrote in an email response Wednesday that, “whether we decide to apply or not, the recognition of the achievement at WCS is certainly an honor.

“We know how critically important it is that all children develop strong literacy and math skills in the early grades, and how these serve as a foundation for learning in later years.”

The U.S. Department of Educa- tion program honors public and private schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and closed gaps in achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students.

Smith added, “I am proud of WCS, and all our schools in MSAD 75, who have been dedicated to increasing student learning, and continuous improvement. Our goal remains to ‘get all kids in the boat’ of success.”

Since 1982, the federal education department has annually sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds.

In its 31-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 7,000 of America’s schools, including nearly 50 in Maine.

According to the National Blue Ribbon Schools program website, SAD 75’s Mt. Ararat School in Topsham was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 1982-83 and Bowdoin Central School in 1991-92.

For more information about Maine’s program and past winners, and a link to the national website, visit www.maine.gov/doe/recognition/ school.html.