ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Ventana Ranch Elementary School hosted a celebration on Tuesday afternoon after the U.S. Department of Education named it a National Blue Ribbon School. Parent raising concerns about ‘lock box’ cell phone policy at APS middle school The designation goes to schools with high academic performance and has narrowed the gap between various student groups on campus. "Ventana Ranch has that something special, and our teachers are devoted, dedicated, always referring to the data, always teaching to the curriculum with fidelity," said Principal Paula Garcia, Ventana Ranch Elementary School. Two other schools in New Mexico earned national blue ribbons, Zia elementary in Clovis and the school at White Sands Missile Range.