A unique, globally focused Houston ISD early college high school has been nominated for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Schools honor from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Houston Academy for International Studies was on a list of 25 exemplary, high performing Texas schools announced Friday by the Texas Education Agency. HAIS will now go through a rigorous application and review process to be considered for final Blue Ribbon recognition, which will be announced in September. Chosen schools are honored at a conference in Washington, D.C.

Nominees were chosen based on performance on state assessments or nationally normed tests, and 40 percent or more of their students must be economically disadvantaged.

HAIS is an HISD charter school created in collaboration with the Houston A+ Challenge, Asia Society International Studies Schools Network, and Houston Community College.

Its rigorous curriculum includes pre-Advanced Placement, AP, and HCC courses that can end with a traditional diploma in four years, or with an extra year’s study, can result in an associate’s degree from HCC, with a student accumulating up to 61 transferable college credits.

For more on the school, go to www.houstoninternationalstudies.org.