From LOCAL REPORTS

Edwards Elementary School will serve as an example of success for South Carolina's schools. Edwards was one of 22 schools selected for the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Showcase, which will feature public schools that have demonstrated top achievement and improvement.

Edwards is one of four schools selected for the State Department of Education's "In Our Schools" program to air statewide on ETV channels in the fall.

Edwards was named a Palmetto Gold Award recipient this year. Fifty-five Palmetto Gold schools with the highest levels of achievement and improvement were invited to apply for the showcase. Schools were encouraged to share success stories in such areas as effective leadership, positive school climate, exemplary curriculum, instruction and assessment practices; and effective community and parental involvement programs.

Created by the Education Accountability Act, the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program recognizes and rewards schools for academic success. This school year, 306 of the state's 1,100 schools were award recipients with 229 earning Gold status and 77 named Silver winners. Twenty-two Palmetto Gold schools have been selected for the inaugural Showcase project.

"These schools have been recognized for their outstanding academic performance," Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum said. "Creating a showcase allows us to further highlight some of our greatest achievers and share their strategies with other South Carolina schools. This is a great forum to share programs and strategies that are working."

The schools to be featured in the State Department's ETV program are CrossRoads Middle School in Lexington/Richland District 5, North Myrtle Beach High School in Horry County; Foster Park Elementary School in Union County and Edwards Elementary in Chesterfield County. Success stories from South Carolina's schools will be shared across the state through the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Showcase.

Created by the Education Accountability Act, the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program recognizes and rewards schools for academic success. This school year, 306 of the state's 1,100 schools were award recipients with 229 earning Gold status and 77 named Silver winners. Twenty-two Palmetto Gold schools have been selected for the inaugural Showcase project.