CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two West Virginia schools have earned a top national award, state and national education leaders announced Tuesday.

Wirt County High School in Elizabeth and Liberty Elementary School in Weirton are two of 314 schools nationwide to be named 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Public schools are judged based on at least one of two criteria: Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state standardized tests; and schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate dramatic improvement and reach high levels on state tests or nationally benchmarked tests.

U.S. schools have been honored with the Blue Ribbon status each year since 1982. This year, 264 public and 50 private schools received the distinction.

"Both Liberty and Wirt County are examples of places where parents, teachers, administrators and the community have formed partnerships to help all students learn to high standards," state Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine said in a statement. "Their hard work, dedication and commitment to improved teaching and learning that benefits students can serve as models for others."

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said all students could learn in schools with the appropriate support.

"Some have shown dramatic improvements in places where students are overcoming the challenges of poverty, and others serve as examples of consistent excellence that can be a resource for other schools," Duncan said in a statement.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two West Virginia schools have earned a top national award, state and national education leaders announced Tuesday.

Wirt County High School in Elizabeth and Liberty Elementary School in Weirton are two of 314 schools nationwide to be named 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Public schools are judged based on at least one of two criteria: Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state standardized tests; and schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate dramatic improvement and reach high levels on state tests or nationally benchmarked tests.

U.S. schools have been honored with the Blue Ribbon status each year since 1982. This year, 264 public and 50 private schools received the distinction.

"Both Liberty and Wirt County are examples of places where parents, teachers, administrators and the community have formed partnerships to help all students learn to high standards," state Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine said in a statement. "Their hard work, dedication and commitment to improved teaching and learning that benefits students can serve as models for others."

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said all students could learn in schools with the appropriate support.

"Some have shown dramatic improvements in places where students are overcoming the challenges of poverty, and others serve as examples of consistent excellence that can be a resource for other schools," Duncan said in a statement.