Former Slippery Rock High School principal Kristie Shulsky and former assistant principal Jake Jefferis unfurl the flag awarded to the high school as recognition of being a National Blue Ribbon school on Friday.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Students, administrators and faculty at Slippery Rock High School on Friday celebrated a national award that recognizes a dramatic turnaround in standardized test scores at the school.

Former high school principal Kristie Shulsky called the recognition a testament to how the school’s culture changed after a two-year stint, from 2010 through the 2011-12 school year, when poor test scores put the school on the Department of Education’s list of buildings that didn’t meet minimum academic standards.

But through an effort that focused on working together and incentivizing students, the district managed a dramatic turnaround. By the 2014-15 school year, the building’s standardized test scores had gone from worst to first in the 27-district Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV.

“Every teacher and student created an environment for learning,” said Shulsky, who is now the principal of Moraine Elementary School. “Our success is an example of how administrators, teachers and parents can work together on behalf of students.”

In September, the high school was named one of 335 National Blue Ribbon schools for 2015 by the U.S. Department of Education. The distinction recognizes schools that show high learning standards or that have made improvements in reducing the achievement gap over five years.

Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci told students that the national recognition was about them and their achievements.

“This day is for you. This award is all about you. It’s through your hard work,” Angelucci said.