Tucson Unified School District announced today that Sabino High School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and is the only high school in Arizona to receive the honor.

From TUSD press release:

Sabino, 5000 N. Bowes Road, is the sole Tucson school on the list, and is among 286 schools nationwide to receive the honor. Sabino has been an Excelling or “A” school for 12 consecutive years and is being recognized as an “Exemplary High Performing” school due to overall academic excellence.

“As the new principal of Sabino and a former Sabino student, it is a tremendous honor to receive the Blue Ribbon Award,” says Principal Matt Munger. “This recognition from the U.S. Department of Education validates our staff’s, students’, and parents’ commitment to excellence in education. It is an honor to be the principal at a high school whose community is 100% dedicated to academic success.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement.

Sabino was nominated for the recognition by the Arizona Department of Education. Sabino students’ SAT and ACT scores exceed state and national averages, and 92 percent of students enroll in college.

“Excellence in education matters and we should honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare students for success in college and careers,” said Secretary Duncan. “National Blue Ribbon schools represent examples of educational excellence, and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education.”