EAGLE, Colorado — The Colorado Department of Education announced Wednesday that 171 schools in Colorado have been recognized with John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award, three from Eagle County Schools, and 192 schools around the state received the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award, six from the local school district.

Brush Creek Elementary School, Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy and Eagle County Charter Academy all received the John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award, an honor given to schools that demonstrate excellent student academic achievement. On the school performance framework used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools “exceeded” expectations on the academic achievement indicator and “met or exceeded” expectations on the indicator related to academic growth gaps.

Eagle Valley Middle School, Edwards Elementary School, Gypsum Creek Middle School, June Creek Elementary School, Minturn Middle School (now Homestake Peak School) and Red Sandstone Elementary School all received the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award, which recognizes schools in the state with the highest rate of student longitudinal growth on state-wide assessments, as measured by the Colorado Growth Model.

For more information on John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award or Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award, go to www.cde.state.co.us.