January 9, 2008 Ten district schools are among 230 schools throughout South Carolina to earn cash awards recognizing high levels of academic achievement and high rates of student academic improvement. Collectively, Horry County schools earned $132,485 that will be shared among six elementary schools, three high schools and one academy. In its seventh year, the Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards program was created by the Education Accountability Act of 1998 with award criteria developed by the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee. The EOC's award criteria are based on the Absolute and Improvement ratings assigned to each school on the 2007 report cards. The report card ratings are determined by PACT scores for elementary and middle schools. For high schools, the ratings are based on Exit Exam results, End-of-Course test results, and the graduation rate. Awards went to schools that dramatically improved their students' performance between 2006 and 2007. Any school with an absolute rating above unsatisfactory was eligible. Primary schools with only grades two and below are not eligible for the awards. State law bases the award criteria on student achievement, and PACT tests are not administered to students in the early grades. Each winning school receives an award flag, a certificate and a portion of $3 million in state funds earmarked for the 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. Horry County Schools’ award winners are: Aynor High School, Gold, $14,498; Conway High School, Silver, $21,577; Loris High School, Gold, $20,326; Lakewood Elementary School, Gold, $15,891; Loris Elementary School, Silver, $11,197; Midland Elementary School, Silver, $ 6,874; Waccamaw Elementary School, Silver, $ 8,855; Forestbrook Elementary School, Gold, $16,744; Ocean Bay Elementary School, Silver, $9,368; and the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, $7,155. |
