It's a blue-ribbon day for Inglemoor High

Standing on stage and receiving a plaque and a "Blue Ribbon" flag to fly above Inglemoor High School was one of the "coolest things" Principal Vicki Sherwood has ever done, she said.

"This is a confirmation, our efforts are being validated," she said after the awards ceremony Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Inglemoor was one of three schools in the state to be honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School. The Kenmore school is one of 238 public schools nationwide to be honored, and one of 40 high schools that met the high standards of achievement to win the honor in 2007.

Blue Ribbon selections are based on consistently high performance, or dramatic improvement, in reading and math. Inglemoor was recognized for consistent, high performance in both subject areas.

"You don't become a Blue Ribbon School without a lot of hard work from the staff and the support of the community and parents," Sherwood said. You have to have a solid, willing staff that is amenable to changes that need to take place ... . They are the ones that deliver services on a day-to-day basis."

Also recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for 2007 was Madison Elementary School, in Spokane, and South Whidbey High School, in Langley.

Inglemoor, which is the largest of Northshore's three comprehensive high schools, is home to the district's International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which offers a rigorous international curriculum. About 700 of the school's 1,850 students participate in the program, said John Loy, assistant principal at Inglemoor.

Having an IB program in the school tends to raise the level of academic success among all students, Loy said.

"And there is a tremendous impact from the teachers who teach IB, who tend to address all their classes in that manner," Loy said.

The school also has several programs geared to helping struggling students. About 100 students participate in a Distance Learning program, a daily teacher-monitored class in which students take core subjects online. Students work at school and at home.

The district also has independent study and an afternoon P.M. Program for students who aren't able to be in school during regular hours. A Credit Advancement Program helps 10th-graders who have fallen behind in credits get caught up while moving forward with regular sophomore classes.

Inglemoor is the third Northshore School District school to receive the Blue Ribbon award in the past three years. Last year, Wellington Elementary, in Woodinville, received the award and Northshore Junior High, in Bothell, was honored in 2005.

Rachel Tuinstra: 206-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com