Essex, Missouri - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon talks with students inside the classroom of high school history teacher Paul Arnold during his visit to Richland R-1 School on Friday.

Nixon visited the Southeast Missouri school to commend them on being the only high school in the state of Missouri to receive the 2016 Blue Ribbon School Award by the U.S. Department of Education.

The national award - given to only 329 school nation wide this year - honors schools whose students achieve at very high levels year after year.

Last year Richland High School scored a perfect 100 on its MISP 5 and had a 100 percent graduation rate.

The MSIP 5 is the state’s school accountability system for reviewing and accrediting public school districts in Missouri.

Photo by Katie Pinkley / Richland Schools

Article submitted by Kyle Carter, Business Teacher, Advisor for The Rebel, Richland R-1 School, Essex, Missouri.