Eight Richland One schools receive Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards

  Eight Richland One schools are among 306 schools statewide named as recipients of 2003 Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards. These cash awards recognize high levels of academic achievement and high rates of student academic improvement.

 Richland One recipients are:  Dreher High, Gold; A.C. Flora High, Gold; W.J. Keenan High, Silver; Brennen Elementary, Gold; Hopkins Elementary, Silver; Logan Elementary, Silver; Satchel Ford Elementary, Gold; and S.A. Heyward Career and Technology Center, Gold.

  In its third year, the Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards program was created by the Education Accountability Act of 1998.  The South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC) developed award criteria.

Each winning school will receive an award flag, a certificate and a portion of $2 million in state lottery funds earmarked for the awards program.  The financial award is determined by several factors, including the type of award received, student enrollment, student attendance, teacher attendance and dropout rates.  The minimum amount for a Gold award is $1,500, and the minimum for a Silver award is $1,000. 

The EOC's award criteria were based on the absolute and improvement ratings that were assigned to each school on the 2003 report cards.  PACT scores for elementary and middle schools determine the report card ratings.  For high schools, the ratings are based on Exit Exam results and eligibility for LIFE scholarships. 

            This year is the second year career centers and special schools could receive an award.  Last year, they were not eligible to be recognized because they did not receive an improvement rating on the 2002 report cards.  Primary schools with only grades two and below are not eligible under the EOC's criteria for the awards.