Ala Wai Elementary and 'Aina Haina Elementary will be awarded the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School award during ceremonies this week.

Both schools were announced as NCLB Blue Ribbon School award recipients last month. Holualoa Elementary, on the Big Island, is the only other Hawai'i school to receive the honor for academic achievement from the U.S. Department of Education.

Emily Casarona, deputy regional representative for the U.S. Department of Education, will present both Ala Wai and 'Aina Haina schools with their Blue Ribbon School award this week.

Ala Wai will hold its award ceremony at 1:30 p.m. today. 'Aina Haina will have an award assembly at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

"Blue Ribbon Schools are examples of what hardworking educators and parents, committed to challenging every student to achieve his or her potential, can accomplish. Both 'Aina Haina and Ala Wai prove, that with hard work and high academic standards, every child can learn and achieve academic success," Casarona said in a written statement.