CHOCOWINITY — Chocowinity Primary School being named as one of three North Carolina schools to receive recognition as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School is one of the Daily News’  Top 10 stories of the year.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave the award to 285 public schools and 50 private schools.

“This honor recognizes students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” she said in a press release. “National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of excellence — in vision, in implementation and in results.”

Blue Ribbon schools are determined based on high learning achievements or improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award has been given to more than 8,000 schools over the course of more than 30 years, according to the release.

Alicia Vosburgh, principal at Chocowinity Primary, said the school was excited to receive the title. Vosburgh and media coordinator Summer Dail were invited for a conference of Blue Ribbon schools in Washington, D.C., in early November, where the schools were recognized with a plaque, flag and banner to commemorate the occasion.

She said the trip was a good opportunity to network with other educators and take ideas back to Chocowinity Primary.

“It was just a great opportunity,” Vosburgh said. “We had wonderful speakers that discussed just sustainability of your achievement and looking forward to your future.”

One of the main takeaways from the conference was the importance of celebrating the Blue Ribbon achievement all year long, she said. The school plans to have a Blue Ribbon Day each month to celebrate the title, and most recently, students carried a Blue Ribbon banner during the Chocowinity Christmas parade.

Vosburgh said she could not be more proud of the school staff and students.

“Students (are) fearful to put themselves out there to take educational risk, and it is our job as educators to promote and support students not just academically, but as a whole,” she said. “I truly feel like Chocowinity Primary does an outstanding job in this area. Our staff creates a rapport with students and families that reaches beyond the (3 p.m.) bell.”