Five Tristate schools were named 2000-2001 Blue Ribbon Schools on Wednesday, a coveted designation awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

        Selected from 453 nominations, the schools are among 264 winners — 223 public and 41 private schools in 38 states, including 14 in Ohio and five in Kentucky.

        “These schools represent pockets of excellence in education that can be found in communities all across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige.

        The Tristate winners:

        • Kilgour Elementary in Mount Lookout, Cincinnati Public Schools.

        • Edwin H. Greene Inter mediate School and Maple Dale Elementary, both in Blue Ash, Sycamore Schools.

        • Miamitown Elementary in Miamitown, Southwest Local Schools.

        • St. Pius X Elementary in Edgewood, Ky., Covington Diocese.

        All five are first-time winners, except Kilgour, which won the award in 1991-92. Started in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a national school improvement program that has recognized 4,246 schools.

        “We're part of a great team,” said Miamitown Principal Carter Cordes. “It just thrills me to see my people recognized for all the great things they're doing, from the kids to the custodians.”

        Nominated by state education agencies and the Council for American Private Education, schools are selected based on leadership, teaching, curriculum, school safety, student achievement and parent involvement.

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