The Maryland State Department of Education has announced that 12 local high schools received awards in the 2006 Maryland School Performance Recognition Program. The awards are based on overall high performance on the 2006 High School Assessments (HSA) and/or for improvement among subgroups from the 2005 to the 2006 HSA.

Two schools, Damascus and Winston Churchill high schools, were recognized for both subgroup improvement and overall performance. Subgroup improvement recognition went to Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Northwood, and Wheaton high schools. Overall performance honorees were Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Poolesville, Richard Montgomery, Thomas S. Wootton, Walt Whitman, and Walter Johnson high schools.

The 12 award winners represent half of Montgomery County’s high schools. Statewide, 80 high schools in 15 of 24 jurisdictions received awards in the School Performance Recognition Program.