Crawford County elementary school receives statewide award

A Crawford County elementary school is among eight schools in Wisconsin to receive a prestigious state honor for academic excellence. Wauzeka Elementary School, part of the Wauzeka-Steuben School District, was named a 2026 Wisconsin Blue Ribbon School by the state Department of Public Instruction. The school earned recognition in both categories offered by the program — “Exemplary High Performing” and “Exemplary Gap Closing” — making it one of only three schools statewide to receive the dual distinction this year. This marks the second year the DPI has awarded Blue Ribbon recognition at the state level. The Blue Ribbon award was established by the Wisconsin DPI in 2025 after the U.S. Department of Education ended the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.