Two Horry County elementary schools are among six public schools in South Carolina being recognized for superior student achievement as a part of the Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program. Among the six schools, two winners will receive awards of $100,000 while the remaining four honorable mention winners will each receive awards of $25,000.

Myrtle Beach Elementary School received honorable mention in the category of Overall Achievement. Kingston Elementary School received honorable mention in the category of Closing the Achievement Gap.

Title I schools recognized in the Overall Achievement category have greater percentages of students scoring either Proficient or Advanced in English/language arts and math testing over the past two years. Schools honored for Closing the Achievement Gap have narrowed the percentage differences between African-American and white students scoring Proficient and Advanced in English/language arts and math over the past two years.

Schools considered for awards also must have at least 50 percent of their students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch programs, must show adequate yearly progress (AYP) for the two previous years, and must not have a current State Report Card Absolute rating of Unsatisfactory.

The awards are part of the National Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program authorized by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act.

South Carolina’s distinguished and honorable mention schools will be honored by the State Board of Education and recognized at a national conference early in 2008.

Gerrita Postlewait; Renae Anderson Fowler, principal Myrtle Beach Elementary; Barbara Harrelson, Federal Program Coordinator; and Jim Rex, State Superintendent of Education.

Gerrita Postlewait; Mary Anderson, principal Kingston Elementary; Barbara Harrelson, Federal Program Coordinator; and Jim Rex, State Superintendent of Education.