Fort Worth schools get national honor

Four local schools have been recognized as some of the top performers among the nation’s urban public schools.

The National Excellence in Urban Education Award was presented to Charles Nash Elementary School, North Hi Mount Elementary School, W.C. Stripling Middle School and the Young Men’s Leadership Academy, school officials said.

North Hi Mount Principal Todd Koppes said the award reflects the collaborative spirit at his 365-student campus.

“A lot of it has to do with our teachers,” Koppes said Tuesday. “And we have very solid parental support through PTA and our room-parent programs. And we have a great group of students.”

Hi Mount, which is pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, has three distinctions from the Texas Education Agency, including reading, college readiness and ability to close achievement gaps. It is deemed “acceptable” under the TEA’s guidelines.

The National Center for Urban School Transformation selected 24 urban schools to receive the award.

Interim Fort Worth Superintendent Patricia Linares described the local recognitions as “wonderful successes.”

The awards will be presented at the National Symposium on High-Performing Urban Schools, scheduled for late May in Dallas.

This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Fort Worth schools get national honor."