JOLIET – Blue confetti dropped and the hands of 266 elementary students rose in the air to catch it as it fell to the ground. Cheers ensued as the children realized their school was named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School for its high achieving status.

In a student assembly Wednesday, a video from U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. was played for students, staff, teachers and board members of Joliet Public Schools District 86. In the video, Eisenhower Academy was named one of 329 schools nationwide to receive the distinction.

Eisenhower was one of 16 public schools in Illinois to get the honor, according to a news release from the Illinois State Board of Education. The only other area school to receive the designation was Kennedy Junior High School in Naperville School District 203.

District 86 Spokeswoman Sandy Zalewski said this was the first time in school and district history a school has been a National Blue Ribbon School.

“This gives Eisenhower and the district national recognition. The teachers, staff and students work so hard,” Zalewski said.

Eisenhower has established itself as a magnet school, where students who reside in District 86 must test average or above average to attend. Superintendent Theresa Rouse said the curriculum has an intentional focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and encourages students to learn beyond the basics.

Fifth-grade student Ryland Denson was among those at the Wednesday’s assembly. He said what makes his school great is the hands-on teaching approach the educators take each day.

“Our classes are not just a teacher droning on all day, it’s hands-on work. It’s not easy, but we get it done and it’s awesome,” Denson said. “And, now I guess I can say that I go to one of the 329 best schools in the country, so that’s awesome too.”

Eisenhower Principal Wendy Wolgan said schools must be in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state when ranked by student achievement and assessments in order to be eligible to be nominated for the honor by the Illinois State Board of Education.

After the school was nominated, Wolgan, Zalewski, teachers and staff came together to fill out the lengthy application for final review by the U.S. Department of Education. Wolgan said she received indicators that Eisenhower may have won, but the official announcement was Wednesday, which she said was extremely exciting.

“This award was a collaborative process between staff, students and parents at this school. We hold ourselves to high expectations and our school has a family like atmosphere,” Wolgan said.

The U.S. Department of Education initiated the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 1982 to bring public attention to exemplary schools in the United States and to facilitate communication and sharing of best practices within and among schools, according to the news release.

Eisenhower will receive a plaque and flag to display at the school from the U.S. Department of Education at a ceremony in November in Washington, D.C. The following week, on Nov. 16, the school has planned a community ceremony, during which it will raise the new flag.