14 Manatee schools receive Florida ‘Five Star Award’

Fourteen schools from Manatee County were named Five Star School Award winners for 2016-17 school year, the Florida Department of Education announced Monday.

The Five Star School Award is annually presented to Florida schools that are committed to incorporating family and community members into their school environment to enhance student learning, according to a FDOE news release.

From Manatee, 12 elementary schools, a high school and a middle school earned the award.

The elementary schools include Annie Lucy Williams, B.D Gullet, Braden River, Freedom, Gene Witt, Gilbert McNeal, Jessie P. Miller, Palmetto, Stewart, Tara, Wakeland and William H. Bashaw.

Southeast High School received the award as did Louise R. Johnson Middle School, according to the release.

“It is an honor to recognize these schools with the Five Star Award,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “As a former teacher and principal, I have seen firsthand the positive impact family and community involvement can have on the lives of students. I commend our state’s parents, guardians and community members for going above and beyond for Florida’s students and the schools for encouraging parent and community involvement.”

To earn Five Star School recognition, a school must show that it has achieved all of the benchmarks and criteria in five categories including Community/Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteerism, Student Community Service and School Advisory Counci, according to the release.

Schools must also earn a grade of “C” or above or a school improvement rating of “maintaining” or “commendable” for the year being recognized, the release states.

This story was originally published October 9, 2017 at 5:32 PM with the headline "14 Manatee schools receive Florida ‘Five Star Award’."