TOPEKA ­– Forty-three Kansas elementary schools, 11 middle/junior high schools and 18 high schools recently were recognized as part of the fifth annual Governor’s Achievement Awards, honoring top performing schools in the state.

O’Loughlin  Elementary School and Kennedy Middle School, USD 489 Hays, have received the award.  Kennedy Middle School will close in May,  leaving just one public middle school.

Kansas Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker says,  “The accomplishment recognizes a school’s high expectations and the ability of the school staff to assist students in achieving to those expectations.”

To receive the award, schools must have achieved the Standard of Excellence in both reading and mathematics for 2011. Additionally, the school must have made Adequate Yearly Progress in both reading and mathematics and one additional measure in 2011.

For elementary schools and middle/junior high schools, the additional AYP measure is attendance and for high schools the measure is graduation rate. Additionally, the school must have been among the top 5 percent of schools in both reading and mathematics on the 2011 state assessments at its respective level, i.e. elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, or high schools.