Despite enduring significant damage from a tornado in 2022, Castlewood High School has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon school in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education for its academic excellence.
The school was one of three in South Dakota to receive this prestigious honor.
The tornado caused extensive harm to the school, including a collapsed gymnasium roof and an unusable wing, necessitating the use of portable classrooms.
Principal Angela Keszler credited the resilience of the community and its students for this remarkable achievement, highlighting the support and unity that emerged in the face of adversity.
Superintendent Peter Books expressed immense pride in the school’s success, considering it a point of pride for the entire city.
Bridgewater-Emery Elementary and Fred Assam Elementary of the Brandon-Valley School District, were the other South Dakota schools to receive the National Blue Ribbon distinction in 2023.