Central Noble High School in Albion and Meadowview and Westview elementary schools, both in the Westview School Corp., were named to the honor by the state.

"We're very pleased," said Central Noble School Corp. interim superintendent Dr. Paul Thomas. "We think that we have an excellent staff and teachers who look over the students," he said, adding that the designation recognizes the school's teachers, staff, administration and students.

Thomas said the work of high school principal Geoff Brose and assistant principal Brandon Bitting has made a difference. "I think they've done a good job on working with the students," Thomas said.

Also a help has been the school's three-year participation in the Quality Schools Initiative under coordinator Brad Graden, Thomas said.

The school also has a positive, safe environment for young people, which helps students learn well, Thomas said.

"It's always great to have an outside evaluation provide some recognition of the job our teachers and our students do," said Dr. Randy Zimmerly, Westview School Corp. superintendent. To be in the top-quarter of schools in the state in a variety of categories, which is required to be a Four Star School, shows a nice balance within the schools.

It's especially gratifying that Westview Elementary was named because of its role in the system, Zimmerly said. "Westview Elementary is a school that all of our students go through." The other three elementaries serve grades k-4, and all their students go to Westview Elementary starting in fifth grade, he explained.

Westview has had schools named to the Four Star Schools list before, reflecting the excellence it reaches for, Zimmerly said.

"I believe that the awards to these two schools are shining representations of all our students and staffs, and their efforts should also be recognized," said Dr. Robert Evans, who works with curriculum, instruction and assessment for Westview School Corp.

"Last year Westview Junior-Senior High School and Westview Elementary were recognized as Four Star schools. This year Westview Elementary is joined by Meadowview Elementary in the awarding of a Four Star status," Evans said. "The truth of these recognitions is that all of our schools should take pride in this recognition.

"Students at Topeka and Shipshewana elementary schools consistently perform better than most schools on standardized tests. At Westview we work together to meet the needs of all students, and I find the Four Star recognition to be a tribute to all."

Any recognition of this sort is dependent on the support and quality, not only of the staff, of the kids, their parents and the entire community, Zimmerly said.

That sentiment was echoed by CNHS principal Geoff Brose. "We've got great teachers, we've got great kids and we've got great families," he said. "We've got people here who work hard for the kids and care for the kids. . They're great kids. They work hard and they do what we ask."

The Four Star status is a reflection of a strong community, Brose added.

To achieve Four Star status, a school must be fully accredited by the Indiana Board of Education, meet Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and perform in the top 25 percent of all schools in the state in attendance rate and three ISTEP-Plus areas - passing rate in both English/Language Arts and Math; language proficiency score; and math proficiency score.