The U.S. Department of Education's 2012 list of blue ribbon schools is out and one Central Georgia school made the list. 
First Presbyterian Day School's Middle School is one of 269 schools to top the list for academic achievement.

Caroline Radcliff says her teachers are the reason her school is nationally recognized. "We have teachers that are great and are willing to work with us 24/7. They're willing to take time out of their busy schedules to work with us and make sure we understand everything one hundred percent." explains Radcliff.  

Emma Lako agrees, without her teachers, they wouldn't have made the list. "Everybody is so friendly, and all the teachers embrace me, and I feel comfortable going to them." 

Not only is FPD the only Central Georgia school to make the list this year, they're also the only private school in the state to be on the list.

"To me it validates how hard our teachers work, how hard our students work. The parent involvement here is tremendous, very supportive and to have this extra stamp on us makes it feel rewarding," explains principal Molly Pearson.

To become a National Blue Ribbon school,  you must be nominated by the top education official in your state. Then the Secretary of Education invites the nominees to apply for a ribbon.

Matt Kitchell is in his ninth year of teaching at FPD, and says they provide a safe environment where students want to learn.
"You can educate in a Christian environment and you can also educate with really rigorous standards and I think parents look at the investment that they're making and I think they think it's worth it because we're excelling." says Kitchell.

"It feels really special to know that I attend one of the greatest schools in the state to have a blue ribbon isn't just something that happens everyday it's a privilege to go here and an honor," says Radcliff.  

It's the first blue ribbon for First Presbyterian Day School's Middle School. Their elementary school received one in 2003.