Three Oahu elementary schools are in the hunt for a national Blue Ribbon award. 

The state Department of Education announced Tuesday that Hahaione, Kaelepulu and Palisades elementary schools are Hawaii’s 2015 Blue Ribbon Schools nominees,“ in recognition of their exceptional student achievement gains and improvement efforts.”

In a news release, Hawaii public schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said: “Each year, our Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools offer a shining example of what is possible when educators, families and communities rally behind a goal of student achievement.”  

The three schools are now competing for 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on academic excellence and progress closing the achievement gap. The U.S. Department of Education will announce national winners in the fall during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

All three schools have demonstrated gains under Hawaii’s “Strive HI” performance system.

>> At Palisades Elementary in Pearl City, between 2010 and 2014, reading proficiency climbed to 87 percent from 78 percent, while math proficiency jumped to 83 percent from 74 percent.

>> Kaelepulu Elementary in Kailua credits its strides, in part, to a “16 Habits of Mind” initiative, which teaches problem-solving and life skills ranging from flexibility to persistence. 

>> Hahaione Elementary in Hawaii Kai has an International Baccalaureate World School program. During the 2013-14 school year, Hahaione’s student proficiency, growth, readiness and achievement gap rates ranked in the top 5 percent in the state’s public schools system.