BALTIMORE (WJZ)–Six Maryland schools received the highest state honor Tuesday by becoming Blue Ribbon Schools.

Andrea Fujii tells us what makes them worthy of the achievement.

Meet the newest recipients of the Blue Ribbon award: students and teachers at Baltimore County’s Woodholme Elementary.

“We’re always focused and usually on task and we cooperate well with each other,” said Alyssa Cobb, fifth-grader.

Of its 800 students, 96 percent proved proficient in math and reading.

And Woodholme is not alone. Five other schools across the state achieved the same accomplishments, including Crofton Meadows Elementary in Anne Arundel County, Ring Factory Elementary in Harford County, Rachel Carson Elementary in Montgomery County, Whitehall Elementary in Prince George’s County and Pocomoke Elementary in Worcester County.

The program honors schools that show high performance or significant improvement in reading and math–many of which have many economically disadvantaged students, including Woodholme where 42 percent participate in free and reduced lunches.

“If a student is struggling in any way, we differentiate the lessons and meet with them during lunch and spend time with them,” said Maralee Clark, Woodholme principal.

And many students appreciate the faculty’s hard work, knowing their education ensures a bright future.

“You want to have the good intelligence to get a job, to get money so you can, you can have your own house so you can live happily,” said Phillip Stokes, fifth-grader.

The Blue Ribbon Schools will go on to compete for national awards announced in September.

For the past four years, all nominated Maryland public schools also won National Blue Ribbon Awards.