Palmetto Awards for 29 Berkeley Schools

Release, Berkeley County School District:

Twenty-nine Berkeley County schools were awarded The South Carolina Department of Education's Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for the 2011-2012 school year. They are part of 853 schools across the state that were recognized in the area of "General Performance," "Closing the Achievement Gap," or both. 

Established in 1998, the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program gives recognition to schools for attaining high levels of absolute performance, high rates of growth, and substantial progress in closing the achievement gap between all students. The program reviews criteria such as State School Report Card ratings, test scores, attendance, graduation rates and continuous achievement when selecting award recipients. 

"We are thrilled that over seventy percent of Berkeley schools have been recognized with a Palmetto award in at least one area," said Superintendent Rodney Thompson. "This demonstrates that student achievement is rising across our district, and confirms that the majority of our schools are meeting or exceeding state targets for performance." 

Of the Berkeley County recipients, 19 schools were recognized for "General Performance;" one school was recognized for "Closing the Achievement Gap;" and nine schools were recognized for performance in both categories.

Of the schools achieving awards in both categories, Howe Hall AIMS, Sangaree Intermediate, Stratford High and Hanahan High received Gold Awards in both areas. This year’s roster of Berkeley awardees surpasses 2009-10, when 24 schools were recognized. For information on the Palmetto Awards, visit www.ed.sc.gov. 

Berkeley County School District 2011-12 Palmetto Award recipients include: 

Closing the Achievement Gap Award