One principal says they were lucky, but more than luck goes into a National Blue Ribbon School. Two Central Indiana schools found that out today (Friday).

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New Palestine High School and Smoky Row Elementary School in Carmel are among the eight Indiana schools and the 269 in the nation to win the honor from the U.S. Department of Education, which has recognized Blue Ribbon Schools since 1982. Schools are nominated for the awards by each state education department.

Keith Fessler, the principal of New Palestine High, says it's a great honor for his staff and students and the entire community. He says the Hancock County School was designated a high-performing school under the Blue Ribbon nomination process, which means it's ISTEP scores in English and Math are among the highest in Indiana and it must have met the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmark for three consecutive years.