This Wake County elementary school was just named one of the best in the nation

Weatherstone Elementary School in Cary was named one of the best schools in the nation on Friday, winning the coveted National Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Weatherstone was among five North Carolina schools and 297 schools nationally announced as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School, The awards go annually to schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps.

“As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a news release.

“Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”

This year’s other North Carolina winners are East Robeson Primary School in Lumberton, Seventy-First Classical Middle School in Fayetteville, Southeastern Academy Charter School in Lumberton and W.A. Bess Elementary School in Gastonia.

All five North Carolina schools were recognized in the award’s exemplary high performing schools category.

“These five schools exemplify the best of public education in North Carolina,” State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a news release. “Their entire school communities – including educators, students and parents – are helping to lead the way toward stronger schools across the state and ever better outcomes for students.”

Since 1982, more than 9,000 schools have received the Blue Ribbon Award, which is open to public and private schools.

STEM School of Distinction

On Friday, Weatherstone students and staff were encouraged to wear blue, the school’s color, in advance of the surprise announcement.

Weatherstone is a North Carolina STEM School of Distinction, meaning there’s a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. According to the school’s profile, Weatherstone is using STEM to prepare students to be global citizens who are equipped to problem-solve, create and collaborate.

Weatherstone also prides itself on being a family and community-oriented school. Each year, the school holds family engagement events like a Multicultural Night, Night of the Arts, Community Helper Day and STEM Expo.

The school also is a strong believer in teaching social and emotional learning skills to students.

“The school helps students develop their communication, self-regulation, teamwork, and coping skills so that they can have the tools they need to interact with others and the world around them,” according to the school’s profile.