The Charleston County School District received 26 Palmetto Gold or Palmetto Silver awards for the 2006-2007 year.  CCSD leads the pack for awards earned in a South Carolina district. “Our schools recognized by the Palmetto Gold and Silver awards are thriving examples of excellence,” said CCSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy J. McGinley.  “We are exceptionally proud of these schools and extend congratulations to their hardworking students and staff alike.”

The Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards program began in 1998 as part of the Education Accountability Act.  Award criteria are based on the absolute and improvement ratings assigned to each school on the 2006 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, the graduation rate and students’ eligibility for LIFE scholarships. 

Each recognized school receives an award flag, a certificate and a portion of $3 million in state funds designated for the program.  The amount of the financial award is determined by several factors, including the type of award received, student enrollment, student attendance, teacher attendance and dropout rates. 

The chart below shows each recipient and the amount of their award.
To learn more about the Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards, and to view the statewide 2007-2008 results, visit www.ed.sc.gov.

Palmetto Gold Recipients School Amount Academic Magnet High $13,696 Belle Hall Elementary $16,708 Buist Academy $ 9,290 Charles Pinckney Elementary $15,850 Charleston Development Academy Charter $2,522 Charleston School of the Arts $25,558 Charlestowne Academy $10,212 Clyde Sanders Elementary $6,061 Garrett Academy of Technology $16,523 James B Edwards Elementary $14,373 Jennie Moore Elementary $13,083 Mt Pleasant Academy $8,195 Stiles Point Elementary $12,355 Sullivans Island Elementary $7,218 Wando High School $67,581

Palmetto Silver Recipients School Amount East Cooper Montessori Charter $1,608 Hunley Park Elementary $7,137 Lambs Elementary $5,931 Lincoln High School $2,217 Military Magnet Academy $7,816 Mt. Zion Elementary $2,827 Murray-Lasaine Elementary $3,173 Orange Grove Charter $10,380 Pepperhill Elementary $7,178 St. Andrews School of Math & Science $10,269 W B Goodwin Elementary $8,356