COEUR d'ALENE - While it was cold and rainy outside, the warmth and energetic spirit of youngsters peaked inside Ramsey Magnet School of Science during Friday's all-school assembly.

It was organized to celebrate the school being honored as one of the year's seven "schools of distinction" in Idaho by the State Board of Education.

The Ramsey Raccoons were smiling and squealing with glee as they gathered in the gym at the end of another school week.

The assembly was jump-started by student chorus versions of "Jailhouse Rock" and "Hey Jude" performed by fourth- and fifth-graders in matching red polo shirts, led by music teacher Spencer Normington.

"Congratulations to the faculty, to the staff, to the students and to your parents," Don Soltman, president of the board, said to the enthusiastic crowd.

He said there are more than 700 schools in the state, so being among that elite group is a major accomplishment.

To be eligible to become a school of distinction, schools must hold a four- or five-star rating in the state's five-star rating system for the past two years.

The schools must meet annual measurable objectives in all subjects for overall students and all subgroups.

Finally, they must rank among the top 5 percent of schools in student proficiency and be among the top 10 percent of schools in the proficiency gap between the highest and lowest achieving subgroups and at-risk groups.

"I think if you listened to the kids and the teachers who have been here a long time, you'll hear a common theme," Principal Anna Wilson told the students, teachers and parents in attendance. "Ramsey is a great place because we're like a big, big family."

In an interview, she said teachers and staff at the school have high expectations.

"When you enter the building, you kind of get that feel right off the bat," she said. "Our motto is 'big school, bigger heart.' So we really care about each other."