Three Hawaii elementary schools — Kalihi Uka, Mililani Uka and Pauoa — were chosen as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Education announced Monday.

The schools are among 349 winners nationwide honored for their academic excellence and progress in closing the achievement gap between high-need students and their peers. The program is open to public and private schools, from elementary through high school.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools award is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects the hard work and commitment of an entire school community,” Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said. “These schools serve as models of excellence as we continue our work to elevate student voice, design schools that meet the unique needs of its students, and support the efforts of our teachers.”

All three Hawaii schools were recognized as “exemplary high-performing schools.”

Pauoa Elementary performed above the statewide average by 26 percent in English language arts, 33 percent in math and 26 percent in science, and has a consistent track record of improvement. The school focuses on educating “the whole child” and uses data analysis to ensure continued improvement. It has 291 students.

Mililani Uka Elementary exceeded the statewide average by 28 percent in English language arts, 26 percent in math and 25 percent in science. Teachers at the school have received training on instructional strategies in recent years and helped their students increase proficiency and reduce achievement gaps. Mililani Uka has 699 students.

Kalihi Uka Elementary beat the statewide averages in English Language Arts by 19 percent, Math by 16 percent and Science by 11 percent. Its administrators have “Impact Teams” that examine data and set personal goals and objectives for every student based on their learning needs. The school has 239 students.

National Blue Ribbon schools are considered models of teaching and learning, according to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who announced the winners. The honors are based on performance during the 2016-17 academic year.

Altogether, 300 public and 49 private schools nationwide were named as Blue Ribbon winners and will be recognized at an awards ceremony Nov. 7-8 in Washington D.C.

To learn more about the Blue Ribbon Schools, visit www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html.